NORMAL, Ill. – The Parkland College Baseball team fell behind early and could not catch back up in a 12-3 loss to Illinois Central College in the consolation bracket of the Region 24 Tournament on Friday evening. The No. 3 seed Cobras season comes to and end as the team was outhit 14-6 by the No. 7 seed Cougars in a windy game at the Corn Crib in Normal. Sophomore Nick Gregory drove in two runs on a double in the 3rd and freshman Alex Pipes struck out five in the loss.

"Watching some of the sophomores play their last game was not easy," head coach Anthony Silkwood admitted after the game. "Knowing the effort and energy it took to get themselves to this point did not go unnoticed. I appreciate these guys' effort and adaptability this season. I can't thank everyone involved that made our season season possible, but Katie Sims and Brendan McHale in the athletic office and Bob Knuckles, our transportation engineer, made it easy to get things accomplished."

"Our players are moving on and I was lucky to be their coach for a short period of time," Silkwood continued, "but now I'll be a fan of theirs wherever they end up. Go Cobras."

 
Illinois Central College 12, Parkland College 3
 
Parkland College (31-22-2) gave up one run in the 1st, two in the 2nd and the Cobras trailed 5-0 before Gregory's 2-RBI double in the 3rd cut the Cougars' (20-27) lead to three. After Illinois Central brought in two more runs in the 4th, sophomore Cole Evans drove in freshman Jake Vitale on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the inning to make the score 7-3 going into the 5th. Parkland mustered just two more hits from that point on in a season-ending 12-3 loss.
 
Freshman Michael Sharman (5-3) allowed four runs on six hits in his 12th start of the season, striking out three over two innings of work. Sophomore Reece Rodabaugh (2.00 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 K) relieved Sharman in the 3rd. Freshmen Matt Haley and Alex Pipes made relief appearances and sophomore Nathan Righi finished the game out for the Cobras.
 
At the plate, sophomores Nick Gregory (1-4, 2 RBI, 2B) and Cole Evans (1-4, RBI, R) drove in all three Parkland runs as freshman Austin Gomm (1-1, 2 BB) got on base each time he was up. Six different Cobras recorded a hit in the loss.