East Peoria, Ill. - The Illinois Central College softball team sent their sophomores out in style in their last regular season home game at Thome Field, sweeping Lincoln Land 12-0 and 14-3 in Region 24 action.  In the opener Hanna Evans pitched a three-hit shutout and both Graci Guenther and Nivarra Oredina went yard, while the nightcap had several hot hitters, including Kylie Hyde who led the way with three RBI.  The wins move the Cougars' record to 20-18 overall and 13-11 in Region 24. 

After eight games in the past four days, the Cougars will get a much needed break from game action on Friday to gear up for a big Region 24 double-header at Danville on Saturday at Winter Park. 

Game 1:  Illinois Central 12, Lincoln Land 0 (5 innings)
The Cougars combined eleven hits along with seven walks to get the shutout, scoring five runs in the first inning and adding seven runs in the third.  

In the first inning, Oredina's homer came on a 3-1 pitch that she launched to left field, scoring Marley Williamson who had walked.  Shylar Boze also got a free pass and Evans singled and crossed home plate on Guenther's blast to give ICC a 5-0 cushion.

Evans was on point in the circle, striking out all three batters in the first inning and three more combined in the second and third innings. 

Offensively, she and Madi Kessler each walked in the bottom of the third and Hyde had an RBI single for a 6-0 lead.  The Cougars combined four singles (Gracie White, Boze, Evans, & Guenther) along with a Williamson double for six more runs and a 12-0 advantage. 

COUGAR HITTING
Graci Guenther | 1-4, home run, 3 RBI
Nivarra Oredina | 1-4, home run, 2 RBI
Marley Williamson | 1-3, double, 2 RBI
Marlee Brown | 1-4, 2 RBI
Hanna Evans | 2-2, RBI
Kylie Hyde | 1-2, RBI
Gracie White | 2-4

COUGAR PITCHING
Hanna Evans | 5 IP, 3 H, 8 K

Game 2: Illinois Central 14, Lincoln Land 3   
Lincoln Land scored a run in the top of the first inning but after that, this one was all Cougars as they coasted to the win in five innings.  White provided the first offensive spark leading off the game with a single, Williamson got on courtesy of a fielder's choice, Oredina walked, and then Brown smacked an RBI double to put ICC in front 2-1.

The Cougars tacked on three more in the second inning as Hyde reached on an error and scored on White's double to right field.  Oredina also punched a double to score White and then Oredina touched home plate on a Brown RBI single to put ICC ahead 5-1.

LLCC added two runs on an error in the fourth to cut their deficit to 5-3, but the Cougars put up a nine-spot in the fourth inning to put the game out of reach.  Williamson reached on an error to lead things off, followed by an Oredina walk and a Boze RBI single.  Brown was hit by a pitch to load the bases and then Broghan Hall walked to bring in a run.  Hyde kept the momentum going with a three-RBI double to left field, making the score 10-3. 

The Cougars weren't done as White added an RBI single from her lead-off spot and Williamson doubled on a line drive to left field for more runs.  The final scores came as Boze reached on an error to score Williamson and Oredina, giving the Cougars the sweep.. 

Hall gave up a lead-off walk in the top of the fifth but then sent the next three batters down 1-2-3 for the win. 
 
COUGAR HITTING
Kylie Hyde | 1-3, double, 3 RBI
Shylar Boze | 1-4, 2 RBI
Gracie White | 3-4, double, 2 RBI
Marlee Brown | 2-3, double, 2 RBI
Marley Williamson | 1-3, double, RBI
Nirvanna Oredina | 2-4, double, RBI
Broghan Hall | RBI

COUGAR PITCHING
Broghan Hall | 5 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 K

Thanks to sophomores Marley Williamson, Hanna Evans, Madi Kessler, Gracie White, Kylie Hyde, and Shylar Boze for their efforts both on and off the field in their time at Illinois Central College and good luck in the post-season next week!

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Saturday, April 27 at 3pm (DH)
at Danville Area - Winter Park
Danville, IL