Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLEARWATER, Fla. – The No. 17 ranked Parkland College Softball team defeated Pasco-Hernando Community College and Daytona State College on Sunday, January 29th, on the team's final day at the JUCO Kickoff Classic and Showcase. The Cobras finish the tournament with a 5-1 record after taking down the Bobcats (0-3) 2-1 and the Falcons (2-2) 7-4. The win over Daytona State marked co-head coaches Dan and Kristi Paulson's 100th career coaching win, all coming at Parkland College.
 
"This was a great first weekend for us on the dirt," co-head coach Dan Paulson said on Sunday. "Our pitching and defense were outstanding, giving up just 11 runs over six games. It was a total team effort. We came down to Clearwater to see tough competition and find out where we stack up, and I think we handled ourselves well."
 
Game 1: No. 17 Parkland 2, Pasco-Hernando 1
 
The Cobras found themselves in another defensive battle on Sunday morning, as neither team could drive in a run in the first five innings. In the bottom of the 6th, however, freshman outfielder Katy Hendricks (1-2, 2 RBI, BB) singled up the middle to score Payton Roberts and Zoey Clark (1-3, R) and give the Cobras a 2-0 lead over the Bobcats. Pasco-Hernando responded in the top of the 7th, but freshman Karley Yergler (3-0) struck out back-to-back pinch batters with a runner on second to seal the win.
 
Yergler (7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 15K) earned her third win of the season, striking out 15 in seven innings of work, and shortstop Lizzie Stiverson (2-3) singled twice in the win.
 
Game 2: No. 17 Parkland College 7, Daytona State College 4
 
The two offenses exploded out of the gate in game two. The Falcons scored three runs in the top of the first, but the Cobras answered with six of their own in the bottom of the inning. Freshman Ellie Vetter (2-3, RBI, R, SB) singled to drive in Grace Bushur (1-3, R) to start the rally, and two Daytona State errors gave Parkland a 4-3 lead before Lexie Griffin (2-3, 2 RBI, HR, 2B) smashed a two-run home run to put the Cobras up 6-3. The Falcons would not go quietly, scoring in the top of the third, but freshman Payton Roberts (1-2, RBI) hit an RBI double into left field in the bottom of the inning to score Jaidi Davis (1-3, 2 R) and giving the Cobras a 7-4 lead, one they would hold onto until the end of the game.
 
Edwardsville native Ryleigh Owens (2-0) got the win on Sunday afternoon, replacing freshman Izzy Sheets in the first inning. Owens (2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 K) was replaced by Vetter (4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER) in the fourth.
 
"Kristi and I are looking forward to seeing what the rest of the spring brings with this team," Paulson concluded.
 
The Cobras will return to action on Thursday, February 23rd, when the team will travel down to Raymond, Mississippi, for a doubleheader against Hinds Community College.