CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 4 ranked Parkland College Softball team began postseason play with two big wins over Spoon River College and No. 18 Danville Area Community College on Saturday, May 6th, advancing to the Region 24 Championship. The Cobras (48-10) took down the Snappers 8-1 in the first game before winning a high-scoring 15-12 matchup against the Jaguars in game two. Freshman Karley Yergler (24-7) earned the win in both games, making her 27th and 28th start in the postseason. Freshman Ellie Vetter led the Cobras with six RBI, and second baseman Emma Mason scored a team-high four runs on Saturday.
 
Up next, the Cobras await the winner of Danville Area Community College and Spoon River College in the Region 24 Championship tomorrow, May 7th. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 on Sunday, with a second game scheduled to follow if needed.
 
Game 1: No. 4 Parkland College 8, Spoon River College 1
 
The Cobras struck first in the top of the 1st inning, scoring on a bases-loaded Bri Roloff (1-2, RBI, BB) walk, and right fielder Ellie Vetter drove in two more runs with a line drive single to put Parkland up 3-0. Sophomore Jaidi Davis (2-4, RBI, R) added to the lead in the 2nd, and Vetter (2-3, HR, 4 RBI) lifted a 2-run home run in the 3rd to make the score 6-0.
 
Spoon River threatened Parkland in the top of the 4th, scoring on a solo home run and getting runners on first and second, but starting pitcher Karley Yergler (4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K) got out of the jam and reliever Ryleigh Owens (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) held the Snappers scoreless the rest of the way.
 
Shortstop Lizzie Stiverson (1-4, HR) opened the bottom of the 4th with a solo home run, and the Cobras cruised to an 8-1 win to advance. Catcher Lexie Griffin (3-3, RBI, R) led the team with three hits in the win.
 
Game 2: No. 4 Parkland College 15, No. 18 Danville Area Community College 12
 
Parkland trailed early in game two following an 8-run 2nd inning from DACC, but the Cobras got two runs back in the bottom half thanks to an Emma Mason solo home run and an RBI double from Karley Yergler (1-4, 2B, RBI). The Cobras rallied in the bottom of the 3rd inning, taking the lead on an RBI double from Ryleigh Owens (2-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R), and the hosts led 13-8 following a 3-run home run from freshman Emma Mason (3-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R), her second of the game. Parkland added two runs in the bottom of the 5th, and the Cobras held off a 7th-inning rally to win 15-12 and advance to the Region 24 Championship.
 
Freshman Karley Yergler (7.0 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) faced 38 batters and threw 121 pitches in her second appearance of the day, striking out five in the win.