EAST PEORIA, Ill. – No. 16 Parkland College Softball (32-5) took game one by the score of 8-2 but fell to Illinois Central College (6-14) in the nightcap, 2-9.
 
Up next, Parkland travels to Quincy, Ill., for an MWAC doubleheader against John Wood CC on Thursday, April 15. Game times are 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm.
 
 
Game 1: No. 16 Parkland- 8,  Illinois Central- 2  (7 innings) 
 
Illinois Central scored two in the first inning and maintained a 2-0 lead through three innings. In the top of the fourth, Anna Walker (2-3, 2 RBI) hit a 2-run single to get Parkland on the board. Later that inning, Emily Senjan (1-3, RBI) knocked in Walker for what would ultimately be the winning run.
 
In the fourth, the Cobras extended their lead to 7-2 when Reagan Cheely (2-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) launched a 3-run home run and Taylor Dugger (1-2, RBI) hit a sacrifice fly. The final run came in the seventh when Lizzy Davis (2-4, RBI) reached on an error and Walker took advantage, scoring from third.
 
Chayse Ramey (15-1) got the win for Parkland. She went seven innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out nine.
 
 
Game 2: No. 16 Parkland- 2,  Illinois Central- 9  (7 innings) 
 
The Cougars jumped out to a 7-0 lead, scoring 3 in the first and 4 more in the second. In the third, Taylor Dugger (2-3) reached on a single and then scored from third on a passed ball to get Parkland its first run, but ICC answered with two in the bottom half to extend the lead to 9-1.
 
After a scoreless fourth inning, Parkland added one in the fifth, when Isabel Shafer (2-3, HR, RBI) homered on a fly ball to right field, but that was it in the seven-run loss.
 
Anna Walker (1-3) and Reagan Cheely (1-4) each added one of the 6 hits produced by Parkland, while the Cougars belted out 12 of their own.
 
Josie Birch (6-3) took the loss for Parkland. The righthander allowed eight hits and seven runs over one and two-thirds innings, walking one. Birch was relieved by Sydney Eichelberger (4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K).