CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 16 Parkland College Softball (25-2) cruised to two wins over visiting Mineral Area College (3-17). In game one, the Cobras manufactured a fourth-inning triple play en route to a 12-3 win, and in game two, Parkland never trailed as Sydney Eichelberger picked up win number one in a 13-2 victory.
 
Up next, Parkland travels to Rockford, Ill., to play a non-conference doubleheader against (DIII) No. 1 Rock Valley College on Wednesday, March 31. Game times are 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.
 
 
Game 1: No. 16 Parkland- 12,  Mineral Area- 3  (5 innings) 
 
Parkland led from start to finish, taking an 8-0 lead after three innings. Mineral Area scored 3 in the top of the fourth, but that was all it could muster. The Cobras added four more in the fifth to end the game.
 
Reagan Cheely (3-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI) and Isabel Shafer (2-2, 2 HR, 3 RBI) were both perfect at the plate, and each had a pair of home runs.
 
Kaylee Warren (1-3, HR, 2 RBI) and Lizzy Davis (1-2, HR, RBI) each had a dinger of their own, while Casy Mandrell (1-3, 2 RBI) chipped in with a 2-RBI single that ended the game.
 
In the fourth inning, with runners on first and third, the Cardinals hit into a triple play. Second baseman Summer Johnson fielded the ball and stepped on second for out number one and threw to first for out number two. First baseman Ashley Lynch threw home and catcher Casy Mandrell tagged the advancing runner for out number three.
 
Emily Senjan (5-1) earned the win for Parkland. She lasted three innings, allowing no hits or runs while striking out two. Sydney Eichelberger (5 H, 3 R, 2 SO) threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen.
 
 
Game 2: No. 16 Parkland- 13,  Mineral Area- 2  (5 innings) 
 
The Cobras offense was hot, building a 12-0 lead after only two innings. Four Cobras had a pair of hits, the quartet comprised of Summer Johnson (2-2, 2B, 2 RBI), Isabel Shafer (2-3, RBI), Emily Senjan (2-3, 2B), and Lizzy Davis (2-4, HR, 4 RBI).
 
Three additional Cobras had one hit each, and each had at least one RBI. That trio was Ashley Lynch (1-2, HR, 2 RBI), Anna Walker (1-2, 2B, RBI), and Eden McAvoy (1-3, 2 RBI).
 
Sydney Eichelberger (1-0) led Parkland to victory on the rubber. The righthander surrendered no runs on three hits over three innings, walking one. Josie Birch (3 H, 2 R, 3 SO) threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen.