DIXON, Ill. – No. 14 Parkland College Softball (28-3) took both games of a doubleheader against Sauk Valley (3-7). In game one, the Cobras scored one in the seventh to squeeze by with a 3-2 win. In game two, the host Skyhawks scored first, but Parkland knocked in 10 unanswered on the way to a 12-3 victory.
Up next, Parkland travels to Danville, Ill., for an MWAC doubleheader against Danville Area CC on Wednesday, April 7. Game times are 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.
Game 1: No. 14 Parkland- 3, Sauk Valley- 2 (7 innings)
The game was scoreless after three innings. In the top of the fourth, Parkland got on the board when
Lizzy Davis drew a walk and later scored on an Skyhawks error.
Kaylee Warren then hit a sacrifice fly, scoring
Reagan Cheely (2-3, 2-2B) . The Cobras gave back one run in the bottom half but got out of the inning with a 2-1 lead.
After no runs were scored in the fifth or Parkland's half of the sixth, Sauk Valley tied it up, 2-2, with one run in the bottom half.
In the final inning,
Sydney Eichelberger (1-1) drew a walk and then stole second base.
Casy Mandrell hit a sacrifice ground ball, sending her to third. Finally, an
Emily Senjan (1-3, 2B, RBI) double brought Eichelberger home for what would turn out to be the game-winning run.
Chayse Ramey (12-1) pitched Parkland to victory. She surrendered two runs on five hits over seven innings, striking out 12.
Game 2: No. 14 Parkland- 12, Sauk Valley- 3 (7 innings)
After giving up one run in the first, Parkland scored ten straight to take a 10-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning. Sauk Valley plated two in their half, but the Cobras got them both back in the top of the seventh, maintaining the 9-point margin.
Leading the offense for Parkland,
Reagan Cheely (2-5, 2B, 3 RBI),
Isabel Shafer (2-2, RBI), and
Sydney Eichelberger (2-4) each had a pair of hits, while
Lizzy Davis contributed a pair of RBIs.
Anna Walker had a solo home run, and
Ashley Lynch had a hit with an RBI.
Josie Birch (6-1) was the winning pitcher for Parkland. She surrendered three runs on six hits over seven innings, striking out 5 and walking none.
