East Peoria, Ill. - The Illinois Central College baseball team (12-20, 8-6) returned to action after a one week hiatus, and jumped right back into Region 24 play by hosting the Lincoln Land Loggers at Thome Field for a doubleheader. In the opener, an early charge from the Loggers was enough cushion despite a Cougar comeback effort, ending in a 7-5 Logger win. The nightcap was a pitcher's duel, with the game's only runs in a 2-0 ICC winner coming in the bottom of the first inning, as Gavin Thompson threw a one-hitter in the victory. 

GAME 1 | LINCOLN LAND 7, ICC COUGARS 5
The Loggers got off to a hot start, scoring six runs in the top of the first. Meanwhile, the ICC bats, although not quite at that quick a pace, cut into that deficit, not backing down. 

An RBI double from Jacob Castleman and Castleman scoring on a fielder's choice put the Cougars within 6-2 in the second. 

After a slight lead expansion from the Loggers, Nick Piazza lined an RBI single into left field, scoring Ashton Horchem to make it 7-3. 

Consecutive 1-2-3 innings in the fifth and sixth from Ian McGhiey kept the Cougars in it. Add a two-run big fly from Piazza and it's a two run game at 7-5 entering the seventh inning. 

McGhiey would continue to throw hitless baseball the rest of the way, but the Cougars were unable to translate it into their side of the run column, and the 7-5 score in favor of Lincoln Land stayed put. 

COUGAR BATTING
Bryce Bishop | 2 doubles, 2 walks 
Kyle Mack | 1 single
Noah Campbell | 1 single
Jacob Castleman | 1 double, 1 RBI
Ashton Horchem | 2 singles, 2 walks, 2 stolen bases
Nick Piazza | 2 singles, 1 home run, 4 RBI

COUGAR PITCHING
Gus Lucas | 3 innings, 6 hits, 6 earned runs, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts
Ian McGhiey | 5 innings, 0 hits, 0 earned runs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Caleb Diver | 1 inning, 0 hits, 0 earned runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout

GAME 2 | ICC COUGARS 2, LINCOLN LAND 0
Blink and you missed it. Perhaps not quite that extreme, but in terms of the run column, yes. In the bottom of the first, ICC got singles from Bryce Bishop and Kyle Mack before Noah Campbell brought them both home on a two-run single with two outs. Hits from Campbell and Ashton Horchem broke up what was otherwise a spectacular pitchers duel between the two MWAC foes. 

COUGAR BATTING
Bryce Bishop | 1 single
Kyle Mack | 1 single
Noah Campbell | 2 singles, 2 RBI
Ashton Horchem | 1 single

COUGAR PITCHING
Gavin Thompson | 7 innings, 1 hit, 0 earned runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
@ Lincoln Land Loggers (23-8, 14-4)
Monday, April 8th - 3:00 PM (DH)
Claude Kracik Field - Springfield, Ill.