Box Score NORMAL, Ill. – The No. 2 seed Parkland College Baseball team lifted themselves over No. 6 seed Illinois Central College 8-5 with two big home runs in the second round of the Region 24 Tournament on Thursday, May 18th. The Cobras (46-12) held on to an early lead despite a late scare from the Cougars (22-33) thanks to a 2-run insurance home run from third baseman Austin Gomm (1-4, 3 RBI, BB) in the bottom of the 8th inning at the Corn Crib, his 19th of the season (T5th in the country). Sophomore pitcher Carter Monke (10-2) struck out 10 batters in seven innings of work, and freshman designated hitter Chase Becker (1-2, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB) smashed his 14th homer of the year in the bottom of the 3rd.

Second-year head coach Anthony Silkwood felt the win was a complete performance, saying, "Great win today, a lot of contributors in this win. Timely hitting and pitching propelled us today. It was fun to sit back and watch.

"They are playing good baseball, and they are having a blast doing it. Exited for tomorrow, we will be prepared," Silkwood predicted.

No. 11 Parkland advances to the Central District Championship semifinal against top-seeded tournament host No. 2 Heartland Community College tomorrow, May 19th. First pitch against the Hawks (51-5) is scheduled for noon on Friday at the Corn Crib.

No. 2 Parkland College 8, No. 6 Illinois Central College 5

The Cobras led comfortably following a 2 RBI single from Josh Outlaw (2-4, 2 RBI) in the bottom of the 2nd and a 2-run blast from Chase Becker in the 3rd. Sophomore Austin Gomm walked in a run in the 4th before Illinois Central got a run on the board in the 5th, and the Cougars homered in the 6th to cut the Cobra lead to 5-2. Parkland second baseman Nate Bingman (1-4, 2B, RBI) added an RBI double to drive in Becker in the 7th, but an 8th-inning rally from the Cougars cut the lead to one run. Gomm's 2-run home run in the bottom of the 8th kept the Cobras in front, and freshman Sebastian Gutierrez (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K) got out of a two-runner jam in the 9th to pick up his first collegiate save and secure the 8-5 win. Sophomores Jackson Blemler (1-2, R, 2 BB) and Tyler Herron (2-4, R), and freshmen Ryan Snell (1-5, R) and Ty Hollandsworth all scored in the win.

Starting pitcher Carter Monke (7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 10 K) didn't allow a hit until the top of the 5th, throwing 114 pitches through seven innings, striking out 10. Freshmen Alejandro Maltos-Garcia (0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) and William O'Gorman (0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) appeared in relief.

"Carter Monke was nails today," Silkwood emphasized, "and Gutierrez closing it out was great to see."