Champaign, Ill. - The Illinois Central College softball lost a 5-4 heart-breaker in the opener at #24 Parkland but bounced back in the nightcap to win 5-3 in Region 24 action at PC Softball Field. Freshman Cassidee Bauer led the offensive attack with five RBI on the day, while Emily Compton picked up the win on the mound in Game 2. ICC moved their record to 20-19 while Parkland stands at 28-12.
GAME 1: #24 Parkland 5, Illinois Central 4
The Cougars led for the better part of the game until PC snuck out with the win in the bottom of the seventh.
ICC led off the game with singles from Nivarra Oredina and Kelsey Bartels; they were brought in on a two-out double by Bauer to take a 2-0 lead. Pitcher Broghan Hall escaped trouble in the bottom half as she and the Cougars wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam to keep Parkland off the board.
The Cougars added a run in the top of the third on a Bailey Herrick double. She scored on a sacrifice bunt by Bauer to make the score 3-0.
The Green and Gold again loaded the bases in the bottom of the third but Hall and the defense tightened to avoid trouble. However, the tide turned in the fifth as PC hit a solo home run and added two more runs on a single, walk, and double to knot the score at 3-all.
After the Cougars went 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth, Parkland manufactured two singles and a hit batter into a 4-3 advantage.
Kayleigh Harr started the rally in the top of the seventh with a one-out single to center field. Bauer then singled with two outs, and she and Harr both advanced into scoring position thanks to a Cobra error. Olivia Strawn's base hit to right field tied the score at 4-4.
Parkland walked it off in the bottom half with a solo homer.
COUGAR HITTING
Cassidee Bauer | 3-4, 3 RBI, double
Olivia Strawn | 2-4, RBI, double
Courtney Campbell | 1-3, double
Bailey Herrick | 1-4, double
COUGAR PITCHING
Broghan Hall | 5 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3K
Bailey Herrick | 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 K
GAME 2: Illinois Central 5, (#24) Parkland 3
Just like in the first game ICC took a 2-0 lead, this time on a Oredina walk, Harr single, and Herrick's reaching on an error to load the bases. Bauer's bat stayed hot as she lined an 0-1 pitch to center field to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead.
Bartels, Harr, and Herrick each singled in the top of the third to add another run to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead.
Parkland answered with three runs in the bottom of the third using a triple, double, and home run to knot the score at 3-3.
The Cougars punched right back in the top of the fourth as Zoe Eeten drew a lead-off walk and advanced to third on a Courtney Campbell base hit. A Cobra error allowed a run to score and Campbell eventually scored on a fielder's choice giving ICC a 5-3 advantage.
The game then turned into a pitcher's duel the rest of the way. Compton shut the door on any potential Cobra comeback, giving up just a single and a walk over the final four innings.
COUGAR HITTING
Cassidee Bauer | 2-3, 2 RBI, double
Nivarra Oredina | 3-4, RBI
Kayleigh Harr | 2-4, RBI
Bailey Herrick | 1-4, RBI
Kelsey Bartels | 2-4
COUGAR PITCHING
Emily Compton | 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 K
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Wednesday, April 16 - 3:00 pm (DH)
at Heartland
Corn Crib - Normal, IL
Watch Live: https://www.awre.tv/signup?next=/channel/t83621
Live Stats (GameChanger; "Illinois Central College 2025")
