Canton, Ill. - The Illinois Central College softball team lives to see another day but in a bit of an unconventional way---thanks to Mother Nature.  The #4 seeded Cougars traveled to #3 seeded Spoon River for a best of three series in the Region 24 tourney and despite out-hitting the hosts, dropped the first game 5-3. 

Game 2 was halted in the top of the 5th with SRC holding a 3-1 lead.  The teams will resume play on Friday, May 3 at 3:00 pm; if the Cougars can pull out the Game 2 win, the "if necessary" game will be played immediately afterwards at 5pm.  

Game 1:  Spoon River 5, Illinois Central 3
Marley Williamson and Gracie White each had two hits, but it was not enough as SRC took the opener.  The Cougars got on the board in the top of the first thanks to four consecutive singles by White (to right), Williamson (to left), Nivarra Oredina (bunt single), and Shylar Boze (scored White).  Marlee Brown had a sacrifice fly to score Williamson but unfortunately the next two batters flied out to end the inning as the Cougars held a 2-0 lead.

Pitcher Hanna Evans started strong, blanking the Snappers in the first two innings.  However, Spoon used a two-out walk and an RBI double to cut the Cougar lead to 2-1.  The Snappers struck again in the fourth---this time with a walk, single, and home run to forge ahead 4-2.

The Cougars bounced back in the top of the fifth when Kylie Hyde got on with a bunt single.  White then hit the first pitch straight up the middle for a base hit to put runners on first and second with one out.  Williamson stroked a line drive just past the first baseman for a single that scored Hyde, who slid under the tag for a score of 4-3.  White moved to third on the throw and Williamson advanced to second, putting the Cougars in position for a big inning.  But the Snappers dug in and halted the rally, inducing a pop-up and ground out to end the inning.

Then it was the Cougar defense who dug in as SRC loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth on a single and a pair of walks.  But Evans ended the inning with a fly out to Hyde to stop the Snapper momentum.

Evans had a one-out single in the top of the sixth, but to no avail.  In the bottom of the sixth, Spoon added an insurance run after a single, stolen base, and single to take a 5-3 lead.  

In the top of the seventh, the Cougars had the tying runs in scoring position on a two-out walk by Williamson.  Oredina bunted and reached on an error and advanced to second while Williamson moved to third.  SRC ended the inning with a pop-up to the shortstop to get the win.

COUGAR HITTING
Marley Williamson | 2-3, RBI
Shylar Boze | 1-3, RBI
Marlee Brown | RBI
Gracie White | 2-4

COUGAR PITCHING
Hanna Evans | 6 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 6 K

Game 2:  Spoon River 3, Illinois Central 1 - game halted in 5th inning (will resume Friday, May 3 at 3pm)
The Cougars got on the board early as Oredina drew a two-out walk and scored on a Boze double for a 1-0 lead. 

Spoon River answered with all three runs in the bottom of the second.  The lead-off batter singled and then the Cougars cleanly fielded two grounders for outs, as the runner advance to third.  The next Snapper walked, putting runners at the corners.  An RBI single scored a run, followed by a double that netted two runs and a 3-1 SRC lead. 

The pitching heated up after that as each team managed only one hit in the next two innings; a double by Williamson in the top of the third and a Snapper single in the bottom of the fourth.

In the top of the fifth, the game was halted by rain as the Cougars had one out.  

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Friday, May 3 - resume Game 2 (in the 5th inning) at 3pm at Spoon River Softball Field, Canton, IL 
5pm:  If Necessary Game