NORMAL, Ill. – The Parkland College Baseball team advances in the Region 24 Tournament with a walk-off 2-1 win over Lewis & Clark Community College on Wednesday afternoon. The No. 3 seed Cobras loaded the bases against the No. 6 seed Trailblazers in the bottom of the 9th inning before freshmen Austin Gomm took ball four to bring in outfielder Nick Gregory for the walk-off walk. Parkland outhit Lewis & Clark 6-3 in a game where both starting pitchers went 8+ innings.
 
"Mitch Mueller was locked in on the mound," Parkland head coach Anthony Silkwood said after the win. "The team was fun to watch. This is playoff baseball; the goal is to survive and advance."
 
Up next, the Cobras continue their postseason run on Thursday, May 19^th against No. 2 seed Lincoln Land Community College at the Corn Crib in Normal, Illinois. First pitch against the Loggers is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
 
Parkland College 2, Lewis & Clark Community College 1
 
The Cobras (30-20-2) trailed early as the Trailblazers (19-30-1) drove in their only run in the top of the first inning. After that, Parkland starting pitcher Mitch Mueller (6-3) caught fire on the mound, allowing zero runs on just one hit over the final eight innings, striking out six. The Cobras evened the score in the bottom of the 5th when sophomore outfielder Jimmy Rybarczyk (1-3, RBI) hit a 2-out RBI single into center field to drive in shortstop Austin Gomm (1-3, RBI, R, BB). In the bottom of the 9th, singles from sophomores Nick Gregory (1-4, R) and Cole Evans (1-4) and an intentional walk issued to freshmen designated hitter Logan Reidelberger (1-3, BB) loaded the bases for Gomm. With one out and a full count, Gomm took a pitch outside the zone to bring in Gregory and give the Cobras the 2-1 win.