Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Parkland College Baseball team lost its first two games at the Parkland College Baseball Field this season on Sunday afternoon. The Cobras fell behind early and couldn't come back in the first game, losing 5-3. In the second game, Parkland led 11-3 in the 5th inning but couldn't close the door, and the Cobras lost 12-11 in eight innings. Centerfielder Cole Evans recorded four RBI in the doubleheader and sophomore Jackson Blemler scored four times on Sunday.
 
Up next, the Cobras hit the road for a doubleheader in Quincy against John Wood Community College on Saturday, April 2nd. The first game against the Blazers is set to begin at 1:00 PM.
 
 
Game 1: Heartland Community College 5, Parkland College 3
 
The Cobras (10-11-1) fell behind right away, trailing 4-0 in the top of the 1st inning, before slowing the Hawks' offense. Jake Vitale (1-1, HR, RBI, 2 BB) hit a solo home run and Jackson Blemler (1-2, 2 R, BB) scored in the bottom of the 5th to cut the Heartland lead to two, but the Hawks responded with a run of their own in the 6th, making it 5-2. Blemler scored again in the bottom of the 7th, but it wasn't enough as the Cobras fall 5-3.
 
Reece Rodabaugh (5.67 IP, 5 ER, 9 K) struck out nine batters in the loss on Sunday. Rodabaugh was relieved by sophomore Nathan Righi in the sixth. Blemler, Vitale and Keenan Taylor (1-3, BB) were the only players to record an extra-base hit.
 
Game 2: Heartland Community College 12, Parkland College 11
 
The Cobras trailed 1-0 in the top of the 2nd, but quickly took their first lead of the day with two runs in the bottom of the inning. After a five-run 4th inning, Parkland led 8-1 going into the 5th. Heartland trailed 11-3 before scoring nine unanswered runs in the 6th, 7th and 8th, and the Hawks handed the Cobras their fourth straight loss, 12-11.
 
Nick Gregory (2-4, 3 RBI, 2 R) and Cole Evans (2-3, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB) each drove in three runs and both Jackson Blemler (0-0, RBI, 2 R, 3 BB) and Jake Vitale (1-1, 3 R, 3 BB) took three walks. Michael Sharman (5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 K) made the start for Parkland, allowing just four hits in five innings of work. Matt Haley (2.67 IP, 1 H, 6 K) allowed four earned runs, but struck out six and allowed just one hit in relief.