East Peoria, Ill. - The weather has been less than ideal for outdoor teams this spring and Sunday was no exception with temperatures in the low 50's and an active wind as the ICC softball team hosted Lewis and Clark in the final regular season Region 24 matchup for both teams. Offense was at a premium for both sides, as the teams combined for 37 runs and 46 hits but unfortunately the Trailblazers scored the sweep, winning 9-4 and 14-10 at Thome Field.
Game 1 | Lewis and Clark 9, ICC 4
The Cougars out-hit the Trailblazers 8-7 in Game 1, but four errors plagued the home team.
The score was tied 3-3 after two innings. Scoring for ICC came on a
Kiersten Manning RBI single in the bottom of the first and a
Sydnee Usherwood home run in the bottom of the second.
The Trailblazers got two runs in the top of the fourth. ICC answered with an
Alicia Casas RBI single to stay close at 5-4 but LCC added a five-spot in the top of the 6th for the final margin.
Casas went 1-3 with 2 RBI, Usherwood was 2-4 with a home run,
Allie Scrivner had a triple, and
Priscilla Peek had a double.
Neely Rogers took the loss.
Game 2 | Lewis and Clark 14, ICC 10
Lewis and Clark's offense came out in high gear at the start of Game 2, scoring four runs in the top of the first and five runs in the top of the second to take a 9-0 lead.
Manning had a solo homer to get the Cougars on the board in the bottom of the second.
ICC added five runs in the bottom of the third as Usherwood had a single,
Olivia Stirnaman reached on an error and then
Olivia Drish belted a three-run home run to left field. Peek had a single and was brought in on a home run by
Savanah Clifton to draw the Cougars to within 9-6.
The Cougars scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead. Peek and Clifton singled,
Kelsey Gillette reached on an error that scored Peek followed by a Casas RBI single. Stirnaman hit a pop fly to center that was mishandled, scoring two runs to give ICC a 10-9 lead.
Unfortunately LCC bounced back with four runs in the top of the 6th and one run in the top of the 7th to get the win.
Drish had 3 RBI with her home run, Peek went 2-4, Clifton went 3-3 with a double, and Casas went 4-4 on all singles.
Next up: With the regular season now complete, the Cougars have earned the #4 seed and will host #5 seeded Lincoln Land on Tuesday, May 3rd at 3pm and 5pm in a best of three series at Thome Field (the "if necessary" game slated for Wednesday). The winner will advance to the Region 24 Final Four at the highest remaining seed.
Region 24 Softball Tournament Quarter-final Pairings (region records are in parenthesis)
#8 Lewis and Clark (3-21) at #1 Danville (21-7)
#7 John Wood (5-21) at #2 Parkland (21-7)
#6 Heartland (10-18) at #3 Spoon River (20-8)
#5 Lincoln Land (11-15) at #4 Illinois Central (17-11)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
