Normal, Ill. -  Marley Williamson and Zoe Eeten both cranked two home runs to lead the Illinois Central College softball team to a sweep over Heartland by scores of 7-4 and 3-1 on Saturday afternoon in Region 24 action at the Corn Crib.  Marlee Brown also went yard as Hanna Evans, Addison Church, and Broghan Hall took care of the pitching duties to extend ICC's winning streak to eight games ahead of Monday's clash with #16 Spoon River. 

The Cougars improved their record to 15-9 overall and 9-3 in Region play while Heartland dropped to 18-21 overall and 6-9 in Region 24.  

GAME 1:  ILLINOIS CENTRAL 7, HEARTLAND 4
The Cougars had four bombs in the opener to stave off the hosts as Williamson (2), Eeten, and  Brown went yard.  Evans got the win, giving up just two runs and Church closed for the save. 

Evans escaped trouble in the opening inning by getting out of a bases-loaded-with-no-outs jam with two strikeouts and an infield pop up.  In the top of the second, Eeten clocked a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence and Williamson then led off the third with a solo blast to put the Cougars up 2-0.  

In the bottom of the third, the Hawks loaded the bases with one out but Evans bore down to get two strikeouts to end the inning.  Heartland did pick up two runs in the fourth on a walk and three singles that tied the score at 2-all.

The Cougar offense had a big inning in the fifth to forge ahead as Nivarra Oredina walked and then scored as Brown laced a 1-2 pitch to left field for a two-run homer.  Eeten then doubled and was brought in by a Graci Guenther base hit that put the Cougars ahead 5-2. 

Williamson hit her second dinger of the game after a seven-pitch at-bat to increase the lead to 6-2.  ICC scored an insurance run in the top of the seventh on an Eeten double and Heartland error to make the score 7-2.

Things got a little interesting in the bottom of the seventh as Evans gave up two lead-off walks.  Heartland hit into a fielder's choice to put runners on second and third with one out and then drew another walk to load the bases. Church then took the mound and HCC scratched two runs on walks but then Church ended the game with a strikeout.

COUGAR HITTING
Marley Williamson | 3-4, 2 RBI, 2 home runs
Zoe Eeten | 3-4, RBI, home run, 2 doubles
Graci Guenther | 2-4, RBI
Madi Kessler | 2-4, 
Marlee Brown | 1-4, home run
Nivarra Oredina | 1-3, double
Hanna Evans | 1-3, double

COUGAR PITCHING
Hanna Evans | 6 IP, 11 K
Addison Church | 1 IP, 1 K

GAME 2:  ILLINOIS CENTRAL 3, HEARTLAND 1
Hall, a freshman from Pekin, provided the Cougars with a clutch performance in Game 2 as she and the defense held the Hawks to just one earned run on the afternoon.

The Cougars scored all three of their runs in the second inning as Zoe Eeten hit an 0-1 pitch over the center field fence for a two-run homer.  Then with two outs, Madi Kessler had a bunt single and scored on a Gracie White double for the 3-0 lead. 

That was all the run support the Cougars would need as the defense was strong behind Hall.  After the Hawks got the lead-off runner on in the bottom of the second, Brown and Nivarra Oredina teamed up for a force out at second and then Hall induced two strikeouts to end the inning.  

In the bottom of the fourth, Heartland had the bases loaded with just one out, but Hall limited the damage to just one run after getting a fly out and strikeout to keep ICC ahead at 3-1.  

The bottom of the fifth saw HCC threaten again, this time with a one-out double and then a single with two outs, but Oredina scooped up a grounder and flipped to Kessler at second base for the force out to get the Cougars out of the inning unscathed.  

Heartland stayed on the offensive in the bottom of the sixth with a lead-off single and walk, but Oredina and the defense came up big with a double play that went Oredina (shortstop) to Kessler (2nd) to Brown (1st) to clear the bases.  The next batter walked but Hall ended the inning with a strikeout.  

COUGAR HITTING
Zoe Eeten | 2-3, 2 RBI, home run 
Gracie White | 1-3, RBI, double

COUGAR PITCHING
Broghan Hall | 7 IP, 4 K

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Monday, April 15 at 3pm 
Home vs. #16 Spoon River (DH)
Thome Field, East Peoria, IL