Melbourne, FL - The (RV) Illinois Central College Softball team (6-9) continued its time at the Space Coast Spring Games on Sunday by taking on both the D1 Monroe Mustangs and the Bryant & Stratton (WI) Bobcats. It was a competitive, but tough day, as the Cougars would out-hit both opponents on the day, but come away with a pair of identical 4-3 losses.
GAME ONE | D1 MONROE 4, ILLINOIS CENTRAL 3
The Mustangs were the first ones to the scoreboard, with a pair of two-run singles giving them a 4-0 lead after just one inning.
However, ICC controlled the game from there. Reagan Linder had an RBI groundout to score Bailey Herrick and cut it to a three-run game. Cougar third baseman Kayleigh Harr fielded three straight outs to keep Monroe at bay.
Offense was at a premium for both sides, until Kelsey Bartels lined a single out into right field and scored Courtney Campbell to make it a two-run game. As more opportunities presented themselves, Broghan Hall and the Cougar defense continued to keep the Mustangs any closer to the scoreboard than they already were.
A sixth-inning RBI double from Herrick scored Graci Guenther and effectively made it anyone's ballgame at that point.
In the top of the seventh, ICC was able to get a first-pitch leadoff single from Bartels, but a fielder's choice to get her out and a double play would follow to end the game.
Cougar Hitting
Kelsey Bartels (SS) | 2 singles, 1 RBI
Olivia Strawn (RF) | 1 single
Kayleigh Harr (3B) | 1 walk
Graci Guenther (C) | 1 double
Bailey Herrick (LF) | 1 double, 1 RBI
Reagan Linder (2B) | 1 single, 1 RBI
Cassidee Bauer | 1 walk
Courtney Campbell (CF) | 1 walk
Cougar Pitching
Marlee Brown (L) | 4 innings, 3 hits, 4 earned runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts
Broghan Hall | 2 innings, 1 hit, 0 earned runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout
GAME TWO | BRYANT & STRATTON (WI) 4, ILLINOIS CENTRAL 3
The final game of the day certainly got off to an interesting start. Sure, both teams' pitching was holding the other down, but it was that way from the get-go, with neither team hitting the scoreboard until the third inning.
In that third, Bryant & Stratton had an RBI single and two-run double on consecutive plate appearances for a 4-0 lead after three.
Once again, though, the Cougars fought back. An RBI groundout from Olivia Strawn made it a 4-1 game.
In the fourth, a double from Courtney Campbell led to Bailey Herrick scoring on an error to make it a two-run margin.
After back-to-back singles from Marlee Brown and Kelsey Bartels, the bases were loaded with just one out for Nivarra Oredina, who would draw a four-pitch walk and an RBI for a one-run game after four.
However, both offenses were silenced again. ICC did have a quality chance in the fifth on singles from Graci Guenther and Herrick, but both were stranded. A Bartels single and Strawn double in the sixth would follow, but one was picked off, the other stranded.
Herrick would fight off a seven-pitch at-bat with a two-out single, but a flyout came after, ending the game.
Cougar Hitting
Nivarra Oredina (SS) | 1 RBI, 1 walk
Olivia Strawn (RF) | 1 single, 1 double, 1 RBI
Kayleigh Harr (3B) | 1 single
Graci Guenther (DP) | 1 single
Bailey Herrick (LF) | 3 singles, 1 double
Courtney Campbell (CF) | 1 double
Marlee Brown (1B) | 1 single
Kelsey Bartels (2B) | 3 singles
Cougar Pitching
Broghan Hall (L) | 7 innings, 7 hits, 4 earned runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
2025 Space Coast Spring Games
vs. D1 State Fair & D1 North Central Missouri
Monday, March 17th - 12:15 PM & 2:30 PM
at Space Coast Complex - Melbourne, Florida
Watch Live (USSSA Live - $)
Live Stats (GameChanger; "Illinois Central College 2025")
