Box Score CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 20 Parkland College Baseball team opened conference play with a loss to No. 9 Heartland Community College on Friday, March 15th. The Cobras (9-6) (0-1) coughed up an early lead to lose game one, 12-11, to the Hawks (12-5) (5-0) despite centerfielder Scott Newman launching two home runs in the loss. Parkland led HCC 13-7 in game two of the doubleheader before it was postponed due to darkness.
 
Up next, Parkland will complete its four-game series against No. 9 Heartland Community College in a road doubleheader on Saturday, March 16th, beginning with the final innings of Friday's second game. First pitch versus the Hawks is scheduled for noon at the Corn Crib in Normal, Illinois.
 
No. 9 Heartland Community College 12, No. 20 Parkland College 11
 
The Cobras struck first in the bottom of the 1st inning, driving in five runs on four consecutive 2-out RBI doubles, and sophomore Josh Outlaw drove in Will Flanigan on an RBI single up the middle to put Parkland up 6-0 in the 2nd. Heartland got on the board in a big way with a 2-out grand slam in the top of the 3rd, but Parkland redshirt freshman Scott Newman homered in the bottom half to push the lead to 7-4 going into the 4th.
 
Both teams knocked in a run in the 5th, but the Hawks roared ahead in the top of the 7th inning, driving in six runs, and Heartland scored one last run in the top of the 8th to take a 12-8 lead. Parkland threatened in the bottom of the 9th, cutting the deficit to one on a 3-run home run from Newman (2-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB), but it was too little too late as the Cobras fell 12-11.
 
Starting pitcher Will O'Gorman (4.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 6 K, 4 BB) tossed 99 pitches through four innings, replaced by John Cederberg (2.1 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 3 K, 3 BB) in the 5th inning. Sophomore Freddie Elftmann (0-1) was credited with the loss, and redshirt freshman Will Richardson III (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, K, 2 BB) finished the game on the mound.