CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – #1 seed Parkland College Softball (48-7) won two identical, 6-1, games against #8 seed Lewis & Clark (1-33) to advance to this weekend's 4-team, NJCAA Central A District Championship.
Lauren Kavanagh and
Taylor Dugger combined for 8 crucial hits and 6 RBIs in the 2-game series, propelling the Cobras to victory.
As the No. 1 seed, the Cobras will host three other programs in a double-elimination format on Saturday, May 8 and Sunday May 9, as each seeks to qualify for the NJCAA National Tournament. Specific opponents, dates, and times are TBA.
Game 1: #1 Parkland- 6, #8 Lewis & Clark- 1 (7 innings)
Lewis & Clark was ready for an upset and led, 1-0, after batting in the third. Parkland matched the run in the bottom half, when
Isabel Shafer (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI) scored on a
Reagan Cheely sacrifice bunt.
In the fourth, the Cobras added four, sparked by a
Lauren Kavanagh (2-3, HR, 2 RBI) 2-run homer and a Shafer 2-run double.
After a
Taylor Dugger (2-3, RBI) sacrifice knocked in
Lizzy Davis (2-3) in the fifth, Parkland was up, 6-1, and that ended the scoring.
Casy Mandrell (3-3) was perfect at the plate as the Cobras outhit the Trailblazers, 12-1.
Chayse Ramey (23-3) was the winning pitcher for Parkland. The righthander surrendered one run on one hit over seven innings, striking out 11.
Game 2: #1 Parkland- 6, #8 Lewis & Clark- 1 (7 innings)
Lewis & Clark scored one in the first, but Parkland took the lead in the bottom of the third on back-to-back RBI-singles from
Madison Vogel (2-3, RBI) and
Taylor Dugger (2-3, 2 RBI). Dugger then scored on an
Isabel Shafer sacrifice, and Parkland was up, 3-1, after two.
The Cobras added two in the third, on RBI-singles from
Lauren Kavanagh (2-3, RBI) and Dugger, and the 5-1 lead held until the bottom of the fifth when
Eden McAvoy (1-1, HR, RBI) smacked a solo home run.
Sydney Eichelberger had three singles, contributing to Parkland's 12 hits in the game.
Eichelberger (6-0) earned the victory in the circle as well. She surrendered one unearned run on three hits over four innings with no walks.
Josie Birch (2H, 2 Ks) threw three innings in relief out of the bullpen.
