CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 17 Parkland College Softball (42-5, 16-2 MWAC) won its ninth and tenth games in a row, this time sweeping Danville Area CC (17-11, 11-7) in conference action.
In game one, a thirteen-run third inning propelled the Cobras to a 5-inning, 20-12, victory. In game two, a one-run lead after three-and-a-half innings turned into nine as Parkland scored eight to seal the 15-6 win.
Up next, the Cobras travel to Springfield, Ill., for an MWAC doubleheader against Lincoln Land CC on Sunday, April 25. Game times are 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.
Game 1: No. 17 Parkland- 20, Danville Area- 12 (5 innings)
Parkland trailed, 2-7, going into the bottom of the third but then exploded for thirteen runs to take a commanding, 8-run lead. The visiting Jaguars plated five more in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Cobras matched them with five of their own, maintaining the winning margin.
Sydney Eichelberger (3-4) tallied the most hits, and Anna Walker (2-3, HR, 5 RBI) knocked in the most runs, while five Cobras: Lizzy Davis (2-2, 3B, 3 RBI), Isabel Shafer (2-3, HR, 3 RBI), Reagan Cheely (2-3, HR, 3 RBI), Taylor Dugger (2-4, 3 RBI), and Summer Johnson (1-2, 2B, 3 RBI) each sent a trio of base runners to home plate.
Walker, Shafer, and Cheely each had a home run, as Parkland outhit Danville Area, 14-6.
Chayse Ramey (20-1) was the winning pitcher for Parkland. She allowed six hits and 12 runs over five innings, striking out three.
Game 2: No. 17 Parkland- 15, Danville Area- 6 (5 innings)
Parkland led after every inning, but was only up by two, 7-5, after three. Danville Area added one in the top of the fourth to close to within one, but the Cobras scored eight in the bottom half and then shut the Jaguars down in the fifth to seal a second five-inning, 9-run win.
Anna Walker (3-4, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI) knocked in five runs on two home runs and a double, while Eden McAvoy (1-1, HR, 3 RBI) and Summer Johnson (1-4, HR, 2 RBI) each had multiple RBIs on a long ball.
Isabel Shafer (3-4), Reagan Cheely (3-4, 2B, 2 RBI), and Lizzy Davis (2-3, 2 RBI) all had multiple hits, as Parkland outhit Danville Area, 16-8.
Sydney Eichelberger (4-0) earned the victory in the circle for the Cobras. The righthander lasted two and a third innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits and walking three. Josie Birch threw two and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen. Birch (3 H, 1 R, 1 BB) recorded the last eight outs to earn the save.