Box Score POPLARVILLE, Miss. – The No. 20 Parkland College Baseball team fell behind early on the road against No. 3 Pearl River Community College and never recovered, losing 14-1 in seven innings on Sunday, February 25. The Cobras (3-4) were outhit 14-6 by the Wildcats (14-5) in the loss, closing the four-game trip to Mississippi with a 2-2 record, all against ranked opponents.

"I'm glad our guys got to travel down here and experience junior college baseball in the south," Cobra head coach Zach Pych said after the weekend. "The competition was elite, and it will definitely make us better as we get the season rolling."

"We have plenty of work to do and a lot to learn before next weekend," he added.
 
Up next, Parkland returns home before a pair of games in Marion, Illinois, on Friday, March 1st. The Cobras take on South Suburban College (5-1) at 12:30 p.m. before a game versus Harper College (0-2) at 3:30 p.m. at Marion Stadium.
 
No. 3 Pearl River Community College 14, No. 20 Parkland College 1
 
Parkland coughed up a run in the bottom of the 1st inning in a six-pitch at bat before a three-run 2nd and five-run 3rd inning for Pearl River blew the game open, and the Cobras found themselves down 9-0.
 
Starting pitcher Jaxon Christensen (0-1) took the loss for the Cobras, allowing eight runs on six hits in two and 2/3 innings. Freshman Lane Lorton replaced Christensen before Alex Vertuno (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) pitched out of a jam in the 4th, and Parkland trailed 13-0 heading into the 5th inning.
 
Down 14-0 in the top of the 7th, pinch-hitter Will Applegate (1-1, 3B, R) tripled and scored on a pinch-hit RBI single by fellow freshman Andrew Gallegos (1-1, RBI) in the next at bat. The Cobras loaded the bases with no outs – but could not take advantage, striking out in three straight at bats to end the 14-1 loss to the Wildcats.
 
Sophomores Tylor Phommachanhom (1-3), Will Flanigan (1-2), Ryan Snell (1-2), and Sean Mitchell (1-1) all singled in the loss.