East Peoria, Ill. - The Illinois Central College softball team (7-9) had a big doubleheader on tap, battling with Region 24 rivals and the nation's top-ranked team, the Parkland Cobras (35-3). The Cobras would chip away at an 8-0 winner in the opener, before a nine-run midsection of the second game gave Parkland a 13-1 winner, with both games concluding in five innings. 

GAME 1 | #1 PARKLAND 8, ICC COUGARS 0 (5 inn.)
The Cobras got out to a quick 2-0 start in the top of the first by way of an RBI single and RBI groundout. The Cougars, though, did their best to make some noise early, with Marley Williamson reaching on an error and Nivarra Oredina getting hit by a pitch, putting two on with one out. Alas, a double play would wipe the inning away. 

After Parkland jumped to a 5-0 lead in the second, ICC continued to get base runners, with Marlee Brown getting a leadoff single in the bottom half. 

The 'dagger' inning was Parkland's top of the fourth. A walk, single, walk, and two-run single put the visiting Cobras on the threshold of a run-rule victory, should they hold the Cougars off the run column. 

While that would end up being the case, it wasn't without more hits, with a Zoe Eeten single and Hanna Evans double (first pitch, bottom of the fifth) wrapping up the game's hitting efforts.

COUGAR BATTING
Marley Williamson | 1 walk
Marlee Brown | 1 single
Zoe Eeten | 1 single
Hanna Evans | 1 double

COUGAR PITCHING
Hanna Evans | 5 innings, 6 hits, 7 earned runs, 5 walks, 2 strikeouts

GAME 2 | #1 PARKLAND 13, ICC COUGARS 1 (5 inn.)
Four straight hits in the top of the first led to a 3-0 Parkland lead and that had put the Cougars behind the eight ball early. 

After three perfect innings by the Cobras in the circle, and run rule in play with Parkland ahead 12-0, Marley Williamson broke up the perfect game bid in the fourth with a second-pitch single. Nivarra Oredina was hit by a pitch for the second time, but the duo was stranded. 

A Parkland solo shot was icing on their cake for a 13-0 lead through four and a half. 

The Cougars were able to put a run up on the board in the bottom half of the fifth. After Alaina Creamer drew a walk, she would come around to score after Courtney Campbell laid down a bunt and would reach on an error. Madi Kessler was hit by a pitch to put two runners on, but a flyout would follow to end the ballgame. 

COUGAR BATTING
Marley Williamson | 1 single
Alaina Creamer | 1 walk

COUGAR PITCHING
Broghan Hall | 3.2 innings, 9 hits, 4 earned runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
Marlee Brown | 0.0 innings, 3 hits, 5 earned runs, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts
Addison Church | 1.1 innings, 1 hit, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
@ John Wood Blazers (0-11)
Monday, April 8th - 3:00 PM (DH)
JWCC Softball Field - Quincy, Ill.