CANTON, Ill. – No. 16 Parkland College Softball (36-5, 12-2 MWAC) posted a 5-0 shutout in game one against Spoon River (25-19, 7-8) and then held on to win the nightcap, 5-4.
Up next, Parkland returns to Champaign, Ill., for an MWAC doubleheader against Heartland CC on Sunday, April 18. Game times are 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.
Game 1: No. 16 Parkland- 5, Spoon River- 0 (7 innings)
Parkland got on the board in the first inning when
Reagan Cheely (2-3, 2B, RBI) singled in
Sydney Eichelberger (1-3). The next batter,
Anna Walker (1-3, HR, 2 RBI) , hit a 2-run homer, driving in Cheely and producing a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the third,
Isabel Shafer (1-3, HR, RBI) hit a lead-off home run, and later, Cheely scored the fifth and final run of the game as
Lizzy Davis was attempting to steal second base.
Taylor Dugger (2-3) added a pair of hits as the Cobras outhit the Snappers, 8-1.
Chayse Ramey (17-1) led the Parkland to the shutout victory, going seven innings, allowing one hit and no runs while striking out eleven.
Game 2: No. 16 Parkland- 5, Spoon River- 4 (7 innings)
The Cobras led, 2-1, after one inning when
Reagan Cheely (2-3, 2B, RBI) hit a run-scoring double and later scored, herself, as
Anna Walker (2-3, RBI) was thrown out stealing second. In the second,
Taylor Dugger (1-2) scored on a passed ball, and Parkland led, 3-1.
In the top of the third,
Isabel Shafer (1-4) scored from third base on a Snappers error, and
Summer Johnson (1-4) scored on a Walker bunt. The Cobras had a 4-run lead, but it was short-lived, as Spoon River plated one in the bottom half and trailed, 2-5.
Neither team scored in the fourth, but the Snappers put one across in each of the fifth and sixth innings, scoreless seventh preserved the victory for Parkland.
Lizzy Davis (2-3) added a pair of hits for the Cobras as they outhit Spoon River, 11-7.
Sydney Eichelberger (3-0) was credited with the victory for Parkland. The righthander surrendered four runs (3 earned) on seven hits over five and a third innings, striking out three and walking one.
Chayse Ramey (1 K) threw one and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen.