East Peoria, Ill. - Five players homered to power the #2 seeded Illinois Central College softball team to 9-1 and 11-6 wins over #7 seeded Lewis and Clark in Region 24 Tournament quarterfinal action.  Sophomores Savanah Clifton, Kelsey Gillette, Olivia Drish, Kiersten Manning, and Alyssa Beltran each homered in their final games at Thome Field to advance ICC to this weekend's Region Tournament Final Four, which will be hosted by Parkland College on May 6-7 in Champaign.  The Cougars moved their record to 27-15 overall while LC closed their season at 24-29-1.  

"Today was a great team effort as we got contributions from up and down the lineup," coach Heather Doty said.  "Kiersten pitched a good game and we also had some solid defensive plays in Game 2, turning three double plays.  Now it's on to Saturday."

Game 1:  ICC 9, Lewis & Clark 1 (5 innings)
The Cougars broke open the scoreless game by putting up an eight-spot in the bottom of the third.  Olivia Stirnaman singled to right and Brooke Cordray singled to left to lead things off.  Manning walked to load the bases and after starting out the count down 0-2, Clifton won the battle by launching the eighth pitch of the at-bat to straight-out center field for the grand slam.  It was the fourth homer in four games for the sophomore catcher/designated player, bringing her RBI total to 28 on the season (3rd on the team) and giving the Cougars a 5-0 lead. 

After Clifton's blast, Shylar Boze kept the inning moving by smacking a double to right field.  Marley Williamson reached on an error and then Gillette took an 0-1 pitch over the center field fence putting ICC ahead 8-0.  Stirnaman was hit by a pitch on the next at-bat followed by a Cordray single.  They each advanced on a passed ball and Manning made the score 9-0 with an RBI single to left.

Clifton also had an RBI in the first inning when her single brought in Olivia Drish, who had led the game off with a single.  Manning recorded nine strikeouts to get the win.

Hitting leaders
Savanah Clifton | 2-3, grand slam, 5 RBI
Kelsey Gillette | 1-2, home run, 3 RBI
Kiersten Manning | 2-2, RBI
Brooke Cordray | 2-3
Shylar Boze | 1-3, double

Pitching
Kiersten Manning | 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 9 K

Game 2:  ICC 11, Lewis & Clark 6
With their season on the line, the Trailblazers put up a fight in the nightcap taking a 1-0 lead in the first.  The Cougar defense carried the load early with a Madi Kessler-to-Boze-to-Stirnaman double play and then Williamson snagged a slicing fly ball in center to end the second.  After the Trailblazers went ahead 2-0 on a solo homer and threatening for more in the third, Boze scooped up a grounder, stepped on third, and threw to Manning at first for a double play to end the potential rally.  Drish did the same to end the fourth, fielding a come-backer and tossing to Boze who turned the double play to end the inning.  

Boze ignited the Cougar offense with a leadoff double and scored on a double by Gillette to put ICC on the board at 2-1.  Beltran hit an RBI single and she and Gillette both scored on a Kylie Hyde single that turned into a three-bagger, thanks to a Trailblazer error putting ICC up 3-2.  Hyde scored on a fielder's choice to give ICC a 4-2 lead.

Despite LC pulling even at 4-4 in the top of the sixth, the sixth inning belonged to the Cougars.  Hyde used her speed to start the inning with an infield single and stole second.  Stirnaman had an RBI single giving the Cougars the lead for good at 5-4.  Williamson had a base hit and then Drish smoked a 2-0 pitch to center for a three-run homer and an 8-4 advantage.  Manning got in on the act with a solo homer and after Boze hit her third double of the day, Beltran launched a shot to right field to put ICC up 11-4.

LC scored two runs in the top of the seventh, but the damage was done and ICC walked off winners at Thome Field for the final time this season.

Hitting leaders
Drish | 2-4, home run, 3 RBI
Gillette | 1-4, double, 2 RBI
Stirnaman | 1-3, 2 RBI
Beltran | 2-3, HR, RBI
Hyde | 2-4, RBI
Manning | 1-3, RBI
Boze | 3-4, 2 doubles

Pitching
Drish | 7 IP, 12 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 K  

Next up:  Saturday, May 6 in the Region 24 Semi-finals at Parkland; tournament is double elimination at 12:10 pm vs. the winner of #3 Danville vs. #6 Heartland (to be played Wed, May 3).  Check this website for schedule details or follow ICC softball on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook for updates.