East Peoria, IL - Although the sky may have been gloomy, and the temperatures cold, vibes were still high as the Illinois Central College Softball team (12-13) finally made their home debut with a late add to the schedule, taking on the ninth-ranked Golden Eagles from Rock Valley (16-5) at Thome Field on Tuesday afternoon. Rock Valley would pull away as the game progressed for an 8-2 win in the opener, before a late push from the Golden Eagles gave them a 6-5 win in the finale. 

GAME ONE | #9 ROCK VALLEY 8, ILLINOIS CENTRAL 2
This game was a bit of a slow burn. Rock Valley did get to the scoreboard in the first inning on an RBI groundout, but there wasn't much offense to be had for either team through the first few innings. 

The Golden Eagles tacked on another by way of an RBI single in the top of the third. Still, ICC wasn't quite able to find their rhythm at the plate, with no more than one base runner in an inning through the first four tries. 

A solo home run in the fifth and two-run home run in the six pushed the Rock Valley lead to 5-0. 

Alas, the Cougars were able to break through in the bottom of the sixth, when Courtney Campbell fought off a seven-pitch at bat for a solo shot to center field and making it a four-run game. Nivarra Oredina would single a couple batters later, and she'd eventually come around to score when Bailey Herrick reached on an error and cut it to just a three run game. 

The Golden Eagles, however, would have a dagger of an inning in the top of the seventh, using a pair of passed balls and an RBI single to pull ahead by six runs and set the final score. ICC would go 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh to end the game. 

COUGAR HITTING
Nivarra Oredina (SS) | 1 single
Graci Guenther (C) | 1 single
Olivia Strawn (RG) | 1 single
Zoe Eeten (CF) | 1 walk
Courtney Campbell (LF) | 1 home run, 1 RBI

COUGAR PITCHING
Broghan Hall (L) | 5 innings, 6 hits, 5 earned runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts
Bailey Herrick | 2 innings, 3 hits, 3 earned runs, 4 walks, 1 strikeout

GAME TWO | #9 ROCK VALLEY 6, ILLINOIS CENTRAL 5
The Cougar bats showed improvement in the second game of the day. Despite trailing 4-0 after the top of the second inning, ICC had their best offensive inning of the day (by runs scored). Bailey Herrick sent the first pitch of the inning over the left field fence. Zoe Eeten had an RBI single to score Olivia Strawn, who'd singled a few batters prior. Reagan Linder, who'd drawn a walk, scored on a passed ball. All that would make it a one-run game in the second.

Rock Valley had two on with one out in the third, but Emily Compton drew a first-pitch popout and a strikeout looking to the next two batters to end the threat. The Cougars would capitalize, with Herrick scoring on a passed ball, then Linder getting an RBI groundout to give the Cougars a 5-4 lead in a game with plenty of early fireworks. 

The Golden Eagles, however, would slip through the hit and run column in the latter innings of this one, with a solo home run and error in the top of the fifth giving the visitors the lead back, and this one, they wouldn't surrender, with that two-run fifth being the difference in a one-run final margin. 

COUGAR HITTING
Cassidee Bauer (C) | 1 single
Bailey Herrick (3B) | 1 home run, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base
Olivia Strawn (RF) | 2 singles, 1 stolen base
Reagan Linder (2B) | 1 RBI, 1 walk
Zoe Eeten (CF) | 1 single, 1 RBI
Courtney Campbell (LF) | 1 walk, 1 stolen base
Nivarra Oredina (SS) | 1 hit by pitch

COUGAR PITCHING
Emily Compton (L) | 7 innings, 12 hits, 5 earned runs, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
@ Danville Area Jaguars (17-8)
Wednesday, April 2nd - 3:00 PM (DH)
at Winter Park - Danville, IL
Live Stats (GameChanger; "Illinois Central College 2025")