CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Hanna Evans and the Illinois Central College softball team had #1 Parkland on the ropes in the opening game on Monday but a late rally allowed the Cobras to take Game 1 by a score of 4-2.  The teams were tied 2-2 heading into the final inning as PC escaped with a two-run walk-off homer for the win.  Parkland also took the second game, winning 9-1 in Region 24 action to move to 48-4 overall, while ICC fell to 16-16.  
 
Game 1: No. #1 Parkland 4, Illinois Central  2
The Cougars took an early lead with two runs in the top of the 3rd inning.  Madi Kessler led off with a single and Gracie White reached on an error to put runners at first and second.  Marley Williamson grounded into a fielder's choice to load the bases and then Marlee Brown hit a sacrifice fly to right that scored Kessler and Williamson to put ICC up 2-0. 

The Cobras got a run back in the bottom half on a throwing error and tied the game 2-2 on an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.

Shylar Boze led off the sixth with a double but was stranded.  Kessler and White had two-out singles in the top of the seventh but also were left on base.  

Evans went the distance, scattering six hits on the afternoon while striking out three.  

COUGAR HITTING
Shylar Boze | 2-3, double
Madi Kessler | 2-3
Marlee Brown | 2 RBI

COUGAR PITCHING
 Hanna Evans | 6.1 IP, 3 K

Game 2: #1 Parkland 9, Illinois Central 1 (6 innings)
After two scoreless innings, the bats warmed up for both teams as PC scored two runs in the bottom of the third.

ICC's run came as Boze led off the third with a single and advanced to second on an error.  She scored on a two-out singled by Broghan Hall to cut the deficit to 2-1.  
 
Parkland added a run in the bottom of the fourth and broke the game open with five runs in the fifth on three singles, an error, and a home run.  The Cobras added another run in the sixth for the run-rule.  

COUGAR HITTING
Gracie White | 1-2
Shylar Boze | 1-3
Broghan Hall | 1-2

COUGAR PITCHING 
 Broghan Hall | 4 IP, 9 H, 3 K
Addison Church | 1 IP, 3 H 

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Tuesday, April 23 vs. John Wood 
3pm (DH) at Thome Field, East Peoria, IL