Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 QUINCY, Ill. – The Parkland College Baseball team won two dramatic games at John Wood Community College on Friday, April 5th. The Cobras (19-10) (9-5) jumped out to a big lead and closed out an 8-6 win over the Blazers (13-25) (3-15) in game one before coming from behind to force extra-innings and win 5-4 in game two. Sophomore starting pitcher William O'Gorman (3-0) struck out six through five innings in the game-one win – and freshman Will Applegate lined a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the 9th to lift the Cobras to their seventh consecutive win in game two.
 
Up next, the Cobras host John Wood tomorrow, April 6th, for the conclusion of their regular season series. First pitch against the Blazers is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Parkland College Baseball Field.
 
Parkland College 8, John Wood Community College 6
 
A hot start from the Cobras fueled an early 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning after Adison Worthman (1-4, RBI, 2 R, BB) grounded an RBI single past the Blazers' infield, and Josh Outlaw drove in two, and sophomore Luke Parmentier crushed a 2-run home run in the top of the 2nd to extend the lead to 5-0. Later in the inning, Outlaw (2-5, 3 RBI) drove in Will Flanigan (1-6, R) before Ryan Snell (1-5, 2B, 2 RBI) lifted a 2-RBI double out to right field, and Parkland led 8-0 early.
 
John Wood rallied with four runs in the bottom of the 3rd, and the hosts added runs in the 5th and 6th innings to cut the deficit to 8-6 heading into the 7th. The Blazers put runners in scoring position in the final two innings, loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the 9th – but the Cobras capitalized on the strong start and held on to win 8-6 in game one.
 
Starter William O'Gorman (5.0 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 6 K, 3 BB) earned the win after facing 22 batters through five innings before John Cederberg (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, K, 2 BB) entered the game in the 6th. Sophomore Alex Vertuno (2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 K, 3 BB) appeared in relief in the 7th, and freshman Mike Boyce picked up the save after closing the game on the mound.
 
Parkland College 5, John Wood Community College 4 (9 innings)
 
Parkland opened the scoring in the top of the 1st inning, taking a 1-0 lead when Josh Outlaw scored on a ground out. John Wood knotted the game up in the bottom of the 3rd, scoring on a steal of home before Parkland freshman Andrew Gallegos (1-4, 2B, RBI) lifted an RBI double to left field in the 4th to score Ryan Snell and put the Cobras back up 2-1.
 
The Blazers battled back with three runs in the bottom of the 4th to take a 4-2 lead, but the Cobras countered in the top of the 5th, scoring on an error. Parkland finally leveled the game on a sacrifice fly in the 7th inning as Will Applegate scored Josh Outlaw with a fly ball to right, and the game headed to extras.
 
With two outs and two runners on in the top of the 9th, Applegate lined a go-ahead RBI single back up the middle to drive in pinch runner Dawson Magrini and give the Cobras a late 5-4 lead. The Blazers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 9th for the second straight game – but left fielder Ryan Snell turned a fly ball into a game-ending double play with a perfect throw to the plate and tag by catcher Jacob Filip – and Parkland polished off a 5-4 comeback victory.
 
Sophomore starting pitcher Sam Bryan (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 8 K, 3 BB) struck out eight batters through six innings, allowing just one earned run in his seventh start of the season. Freshman Lane Lorton (2-0) picked up the win after replacing Bryan in the 7th and throwing 2 and 1/3 innings of shutout ball – and freshman Gavin Parkerson (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER) earned his first career save.