East Peoria, Ill. - Tuesday afternoon's doubleheader saw the ICC softball program (24-14) return to the road after a brief Saturday stop at home this past week. It was games three and four of the season series against the John Wood Blazers, a series the Cougars had swept by a combined 20-0 score in late March. It would be more of the same on Tuesday in Quincy, as the Cougars would throttle the Blazers by a combined 20-1 score. 

Game 1: ICC COUGARS 12, John Wood 1
The Cougars wasted no time hitting the run column, with three of the first four batters reaching, highlighted by a two-run home run from Kiersten Manning, which put ICC up 4-0 after half an inning.

After Manning countered with a nearly spotless bottom half of the first, ICC would add on with RBI hits from Sydnee Usherwood and Olivia Stirnaman to put the Cougars well within reach of that mercy rule threshold. 

With a moderate hiatus from both teams in scoring, it would be ICC putting one last push into the box score when Olivia Drish homered, Amelia Johnson hit a two-run double, and Usherwood lined a two-run single. That would put the Cougars well into the run-rule mark. 

Heather Doty would turn to Neely Rogers to shut the door early, and Rogers would do just that. Three batters - 16 pitches. In a painless 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth, Rogers would close it out and follow a successful start in the circle from Manning to secure the 11-run win. 

Game 2: ICC COUGARS 8, John Wood 0
Now, a 12-1 score is certainly satisfactory in nature. Yet despite that, the Cougars were not satisfied with just that one run-rule win. Of their ultimate eight-run game, seven were scored within the first two innings. 

The second inning was a particular onslaught, one that saw six runs, six hits, and 10 batters. Alyssa Heerman (RBI triple), Priscilla Peek (RBI double), and Savanah Clifton (RBI double) were responsible for the extra base hits in that top of the second. 

In a stretch reminiscent of the day's opener, both teams hit a peak in the circle, with both ICC and the Blazers going scoreless in the third and fourth innings. 

With an opportunity to once again end the game early, it would be Johnson following up her two-run double in game one with an RBI single in game two's fifth inning to set the 8-0 final score. 

Olivia Drish was dealing in the circle, throwing a two-hit shutout, needing all of a nine pitch-per-inning average to get it done (45 total). 

What's Next?
There's not much time to celebrate this doubleheader sweep for the Cougars, as they turn it right around to take on rival Parkland, who is receiving votes in the latest national poll from the NJCAA. The Cobras have won seven of their last eight, with the lone loss coming this past Saturday to Danville area by a slim 6-5 margin. The two rivals split the doubleheader in Champaign on April 10th, with Parkland taking game one (4-0) and ICC taking game two (5-0). 

Wednesday's first pitch from East Peoria is set for 3:00pm, with Game Two to follow. 

Game 1 Box Score - @ John Wood
Game 2 Box Score - @ John Wood