Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 1 Parkland College Softball team wrapped up the 2024 regular season with two home wins over Heartland Community College on Sophomore Day on Sunday, April 28th. The Cobras (52-4) (23-1) closed out a dominant conference season with a doubleheader sweep versus the Hawks (27-27) (13-11), taking game one 6-3 and finishing with an 8-0 win in five innings in game two. Parkland outhit HCC 20-5 on Sunday, including home runs from sophomores Lizzie Stiverson, Lexie Griffin, and Karley Yergler. In the circle, sophomore pitchers Yergler (27-2) and Ellie Vetter (18-2) recorded their final wins of the regular season, helping the Cobras to a perfect 14-0 record at home this year, a second consecutive undefeated home regular season.
 
"The last two years with this sophomore class have gone by too fast. This group is so special to us on and off the field," Parkland co-head coach Dan Paulson said after the doubleheader. "They are such a joy to be around day in and day out, and we are grateful and thankful to have the opportunity to coach them."
 
Parkland College sophomore Tia Probst threw out a ceremonial first pitch before the game. Probst, a Cobra softball 2021 commit from Teutopolis, Illinois, suffered a career-ending injury while hunting with her father prior to her freshman season at Parkland College. This injury did not stop her from becoming a leader among the Cobras, however, as she remained on the team throughout her time at Parkland College.
 
"Tia is a room changer," Paulson said of the sophomore former pitcher. "She walks into the room, and everyone is a better person. Tia is a light for all of us every single day."
 
Up next, the Cobras begin postseason play at home on Thursday, May 2nd, with a best-of-three series versus Lincoln Land Community College in the NJCAA Region 24 Tournament. First pitch against the Loggers (14-32) is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the Parkland College Softball Field, with game two to follow.
 
"Tough to put into words what this group means to us and this program," Paulson continued on his sophomore class. "They have shattered records on the field and in the classroom. This group is relentless, respectful, and rewarding to be around... Now we have some postseason business to tend to."
 
Game 1: No. 1 Parkland College 6, Heartland Community College 3
 
The Hawks opened the scoring with a 2-run home run in the top of the 2nd inning – but the Cobras fought back to tie the game in the with back-to-back RBI doubles from Mia Ruder (2-4, 2B, RBI, R) and Alisha Frederick (3-4, 2 2B, RBI, 2 R, 2 SB) in the 3rd, and home runs from Lizzie Stiverson (2-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, R) and Lexie Griffin (2-3, HR, 3B, RBI, R) later in the inning put Parkland up 5-2.
 
Heartland got a run back with a solo home run in the top of the 4th inning, but the hosts kept their cool and added an insurance run on a Stiverson double in the bottom of the 6th, and the Cobras took game one 6-3.
 
Starter Karley Yergler (6.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 14 K) struck out 14 of the 24 batters faced in her 26th start of the season, and sophomore Ryleigh Owens entered the game in the 7th for her 30th appearance in the win.
 
Game 2: No. 1 Parkland College 8, Heartland Community College 0 (5 innings)
 
The Cobras struck first in game two with a 2-run home run by sophomore Karley Yergler in the bottom of the 1st inning. Parkland added three runs in the 2nd as Katie Clark scored on an error, Emma Mason scored on a wild pitch, and Lizzie Stiverson grounded an RBI single to right field to extend the lead to 5-0. Parkland added to its lead in the bottom of the 4th on a Mia Ruder sacrifice fly, and back-to-back RBI doubles from Stiverson and Payton Roberts put the Cobras up 8-0.
 
Starting pitcher Ellie Vetter (5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 8 K, 3 BB) finished off a five-inning shutout performance by getting out of a 2-out bases-loaded jam in the top of the 5th, giving Parkland a regular-season-ending 8-0 win in five innings.