East Peoria, Ill. -  Olivia Drish's four RBI and Kiersten Manning's strong performance on the mound helped the Illinois Central College softball team snap #3 Parkland's seventeen-game winning streak in the opener of their Region 24 doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Thome Field.  The Cougars won 5-1 behind two home runs from Drish and eleven strikeouts by Manning along with a fantastic game-ending catch by left fielder Kylie Hyde.  Parkland won Game 2 by a score of 8-1.   

"We're happy with how our kids battled in the opener," coach Heather Doty said.  "Kiersten gave us her normal solid performance on the mound and Liv provided the offensive punch we needed.  Our defense was good as well---especially Kylie's catch to end the game."  

ICC's record is now 16-12 overall and 9-5 in Region 24 while Parkland is 35-9 and 11-1.  

Game 1:  ICC 5, Parkland 1
Manning recorded over half of her strikeouts in the first two innings, sitting down six Cobra hitters.  Drish gave ICC early momentum and a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a solo home run over the left field fence.   

Manning and Savanah Clifton each poked singles in the bottom of the fourth but were left on base, keeping the lead at 1-0.  Parkland scratched a run in the top of the fifth inning on a single and an error making the score 1-1.

The bottom of the fifth was the big one for ICC as Hyde got the action started with a lead-off bunt single.  Gracie White reached on an error and Hyde advanced to third.  Brooke Cordray stroked a single that scored Hyde putting ICC ahead 2-1.  Drish then cleared the bases with her second home run of the day, a three-run shot to left field to give ICC a 5-1 advantage.  It was her team-leading 8th home run and raised her RBI total to 20 on the season.

Parkland got two two-out singles in the top of the sixth but Manning and the Cougar defense kept Parkland scoreless.  The Cobras threatened again in the top of the seventh on a single and walk with one out which put runners on first and second.  The next batter flied out to center fielder Marley Williamson for the second out and then Hyde ended the game with a diving catch on a slicing pop-up in foul territory.

Hitting
Olivia Drish | 2 HR, 4RBI
Brooke Cordray | RBI

Pitching
Kiersten Manning | 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 11 K


Game 2:  Parkland 8, ICC 1
Parkland took control early with a 3-0 first inning lead on two singles, an error, and a double and added more in the top of the third with a solo homer, single, and three walks to go up 5-0.

Clifton hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 5-1.  Parkland added three runs in the sixth for the final margin. 

Hitting
Savanah Clifton | 1-3, HR, RBI
Olivia Drish | 1-3

Pitching
Amber Lee | 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER
Olivia Drish | 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 5 ER, 3 K
Gracie White | 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 K

Next up:  ICC will observe Sophomore Day as they host (RV) Danville Area on Saturday, April 15 at 12pm at Thome Field in Region 24 doubleheader.  Nine sophomores will be recognized before the game:  Alyssa Beltran, Olivia Stirnaman, Allie Scrivner, Kelsey Gillette, Olivia Drish, Savanah Clifton, Amber Lee, Alicia Casas, and Kiersten Manning.