Normal, Ill. - The Illinois Central College softball team swept Heartland for the second time in three days, winning 9-0 (6 innings) and 7-3 on Wednesday in Region 24 action at the Corn Crib. The Cougars pounded out twelve hits in the opener and then capitalized on Heartland errors with timely hitting to win the nightcap. 

The sweep moves ICC's record to 22-19 as they now have a six-day break from game action.  HCC dropped to 10-21-1. 

GAME 1: ICC 9, Heartland 0 (6 inn.)
The Cougars scored a run in the third and then four runs apiece in both the 5th and 6th innings to win going away.  

ICC's first run came when Nivarra Oredina reached base on an error, was sacrificed to second by Kelsey Bartels, and then scored on a Kayleigh Harr double.

Pitcher Broghan Hall kept the Hawk offense off balance, helped by a double play (Harr stepped on third and threw to Herrick at first) to end the bottom of the third unscathed.

In the fifth, a lead-off double by Courtney Campbell got the Cougars going as she scored after an HCC error that allowed Bartels to reach base. Harr walked and runners were moved into scoring position on a Cassidee Bauer single. Olivia Strawn then cranked a double to center field for two runs and a 5-0 Cougar lead.

The top of the sixth saw Campbell, Harr, and Bauer all double for a 9-0 lead.  Hall completed the shutout, inducing three pop-ups in the sixth to end the game. 

COUGAR HITTING
Kaleigh Harr | 2-3, double, 3 RBI
Olivia Strawn | 2-4, double, 2 RBI
Cassidee Bauer | 2-4, double, 2 RBI
Kelsey Bartels | 1-3, RBI
Bailey Herrick | 2-4, RBI
Zoe Eeten | 1-3, triple
Courtney Campbell | 2-3, 2 doubles

COUGAR PITCHING
Broghan Hall | 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 5 K


GAME 2: ICC 7, Heartland 3
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the third, the Cougars used singles by Nivarra Oredina, Kelsey Bartels, and Bailey Herrick along with a Hawk error to grab a 2-1 lead. Nearly the same happened in the fourth when Oredina singled and Bartels had a bunt single that Heartland bobbled, allowing Oredina to cross home plate for a 3-1 lead.
 
ICC got some breathing room in the sixth as Zoe Eeten led off with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Graci Guenther. Campbell hit an RBI single and then just like in the fourth, Oredina singled and Bartels reached on an error, scoring Campbell for a 6-1 advantage. Bartels scored the final run for a 7-1 advantage.

Heartland scored two runs in the sixth on two walks and a double, but pitcher Emily Compton got a strikeout to end any other threat and pitched a 1-2-3 seventh for the victory. 

COUGAR HITTING
Kayleigh Harr | 1-3, RBI
Courtney Campbell | 1-3, RBI
Bailey Herrick | 1-4, RBI
Kelsey Bartels | 3-4
Nivarra Oredina | 3-4

COUGAR PITCHING
Emily Compton | 7 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 K

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Wednesday, April 23 - 3:00 pm (DH)
at #23 Danville Area
Winter Park - Danville, IL 
Watch Live: https://www.awre.tv/signup?next=/channel/t83621
Live Stats (GameChanger; "Illinois Central College 2025")