SPARTANBURG, SC. – The No. 4 seed Parkland College Softball team advanced to the second round of the NJCAA DII National Tournament on Tuesday, May 23rd, with a convincing 8-0 win over Delaware Technical Community College in five innings. The Cobras (50-10) powered past DTCC (32-8-1), lifting two home runs over the fence at Tyger River Park in the win on Tuesday. The Parkland pitching staff pitched a combined no-hitter as Karley Yergler (4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) and Ryleigh Owens (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) blanked DelTech to help the Cobras advance.
 
"We showed up with energy and focus today after a long layoff," co-head coach Dan Paulson said after the win. "We are extremely proud of how our ladies came out and played, executing at the plate, in the circle, and on defense."
 
"We are excited about the opportunity to come back out tomorrow and compete again," Paulson concluded. "One pitch at a time."
 
Up next, the Cobras continue postseason play in the NJCAA DII National Tournament in Spartanburg, South Carolina, advancing to a second-round matchup against No. 5 seed Copiah-Lincoln Community College tomorrow, May 24th. First pitch against the Wolves (44-9) is scheduled for 2:00 ET on Wednesday.
 
No. 4 Parkland College 8, No. 13 Delaware Technical & Community College 0
 
The Cobras took an early 1-0 lead following a Karley Yergler RBI double in the bottom of the 2nd inning, driving in Ellie Vetter. Parkland supplied a heavy dose of extra-base hits in the 3rd to add to its lead, opening the inning with three straight doubles, and third baseman Bri Roloff (3-3, HR, 2 RBI) hit her 7th home run of the season to give the Cobras a 5-0 lead.
 
Freshman Ryleigh Owens (1-2, RBI, BB) drove in pinch runner Katie Clark to finish off a five-run inning, and Karley Yergler (2-2, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, BB) launched a two-run home run out to center field in the 5th to put Parkland up 8-0.
 
In the circle, Yergler (26-7) allowed just two base runners in four innings of work before Ryleigh Owens replaced her to finish off the combined no-hitter, and the Cobras cruised to an 8-0 win in the first round of the NJCAA DII Softball World Series.
 
Catcher Lexie Griffin (3-3, 2 2B) tied Roloff with a team-high three hits on Tuesday, and freshmen Emma Mason (1-3, 2B, RBI, R) and Kami Pearson (1-3, 2B, RBI, R) each drove in a run in the win.