Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Parkland College Baseball team won their first conference game under head coach Anthony Silkwood on Sunday afternoon in exciting fashion, as Jaden Lamothe hit a walk-off single into center field in the 10^th inning to give the Cobras an 8-7 win over the Illinois Central College Cougars. Parkland split the home series, losing the second game 16-7, and begin M-WAC conference play 1-1. Third basemen Keenan Taylor led the Cobras with five hits and four RBI between the two games on Sunday.
 
Up next, the Cobras will now travel to East Peoria for a doubleheader against Illinois Central College today, March 21st. First pitch against the Cougars will be at 4:00 PM with the second game scheduled to start at 7:00 PM.
 
 
Game 1: Parkland College 8, Illinois Central College 7
 
The Cobras (9-6-1) opened conference play in what seemed to be a low-scoring affair as they remained locked at zero against the Cougars (3-5), but both teams got on the board in the 4th inning. ICC led 6-3 through five but the Cobras got one back in the bottom of the sixth. A 3-run rally in the 8th inning gave Parkland a short-lived lead, as Illinois Central tied the game at 7 in the top of the 9th. The Cougars outhit the Cobras 13-12, but it didn't matter as Jaden Lamothe singled with a man on base in the bottom of the 10th and Parkland walked it off against their conference foes, winning 8-7 in extra innings.
 
Jose Lara (1-4, 2 RBI) and Austin Gomm (2-4, 2 RBI, R) both drove in multiple runs and Keenan Taylor (4-5, RBI, R, SB) gave opposing pitchers fits all afternoon with five total bases and a stolen base in the win.
 
Mitch Mueller (2-1) made the start for the Cobras, striking out eight and allowing just seven hits in five innings of work. Jay Sheuler (4.67 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 7 K) relieved Mueller in the sixth but it was sophomore Will Stockman who got the final out for Parkland in the top of the tenth.
 
Game 2: Illinois Central College 16, Parkland College 7
 
The Cobras struggled in the second game of the day. The team fell behind 6-0 in the 2nd inning and Parkland trailed 11-4 midway through the 5th. The offense was able to get on the board in each of the last four innings, but the defense committed six errors and Parkland's pitching staff was hit around the yard in a 16-7 loss to Illinois Central College in seven innings.
 
Tucker Shalley (2-0) got the start for Parkland. Shalley (3.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 K) allowed all of his runs in the second inning, throwing two scoreless frames and striking out five batters in his fourth appearance of the season.
 
Keenan Taylor (1-2, HR, 3 RBI, BB) led the Cobras offense with a 3-run shot in the game. Nick Gregory (1-4, RBI, BB), Jayden Gibson (1-3, RBI, BB) and Jake Vitale (1-2, RBI) each drove in one run and Cole Evans went 2-3 at the plate with a walk in the loss.