Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Parkland College Softball team matched up against John Wood Community College on Tuesday afternoon in the opening round of the Region 24 Championship Tournament. The No. 2 seeded Cobras swept the No. 7 seed Blazers in two 5-inning games of a best-of-three series as Parkland shutout John Wood, outscoring the Blazers 20-0 across the two games.
 
"It's always tough to know what to expect from our team with the weather the way it was. We didn't remove the tarp until 12:30 and then rushed through warmups along with playing with raining wet conditions," head coach Dan Paulson revealed, "But it was great to see them come out and hit the ball all day. We were focused and ready to go today. It was a total team effort. Our lineup hit well from top to bottom and our pitchers performed well."
 
"It was a good day. Paulson added. "(It's) hard to believe this was the last game on this field for our 12 sophomores. They have certainly left a long-lasting impression on our program."
 
Up next, the Cobras will advance to the next round of the Region 24 Tournament. Parkland will face Spoon River on Saturday, May 7th in Danville in a best-of-three series. First pitch is TBA.
 
 
Game 1: Parkland College 12, John Wood Community College 0 (5 innings)
 
The Cobras (38-19) took the lead over the Blazers (7-35) in the 2nd inning when outfielder Kendyl Ring hit an RBI single into right field. Parkland led 3-0 after the inning but the Cobras were not done, driving in eight runs in the bottom of the 3rd to take an 11-0 lead. Ring hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 4th and Parkland won game one 12-0 in five innings.
 
Sophomore Anna Walker (3-3, RBI, 2 2B, 2 R) doubled twice as she and Kendyl Ring (2-2, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R) led the team with five total bases. Three different Cobras drove in multiple runs (Ring, Lizzy Davis (2-4, 2 RBI, R) and Zoey Clark (2-2, 2 RBI, 3B, 2 R) in the win.
 
Chayse Ramey (22-9) made the start for Parkland, allowing just one hit while striking out five in three shutout innings. Josie Birch finished the game with two scoreless innings of relief.
 
Game 2: Parkland College 8, John Wood Community College 0 (5 innings)
 
The Cobras struck in the bottom of the 1st, taking a commanding 7-0 lead over the Blazers. Parkland's defense continued to shut down John Wood into Tuesday evening as sophomore Emily Senjan throws a five-inning, no-hitter to lead the Cobras past the Blazers. Lizzy Davis scored on an error in the bottom of the 5th and Parkland rolled past John Wood 8-0 to advance in the Region 24 Tournament.
 
Emily Senjan (8-3) sat down all 18 batters she faced in just 60 pitches on Tuesday, striking out one while allowing just one walk in her first career no-hitter. Senjan's lights-out performance brings her season ERA down to 2.05 (34th nationally).