East Peoria, Ill. - Graci Guenther's big day at the plate led the Illinois Central College softball team to the Region 24-B Championship as they defeated Heartland 10-4 at Thome Field on Sunday afternoon. Guenther, a sophomore from Pekin, had a three-run homer and a double to tally four RBI while Bailey Herrick and Zoe Eeten added two RBI apiece. The win advanced the Cougars to the Central District Tournament where they will play host Mineral Area College in Park Hills, MO. Day and time are still TBA.

"What a great win," coach Heather Doty said. "Our defense carried us early and then Graci got us going with her three-run homer to give us momentum. We're playing our best softball of the season and are excited for Districts." 

The Cougars belted out twelve hits and had no errors, giving pitcher Emily Compton more than enough run support as she tossed an eight-hitter. It was the Cougars' seventh straight victory and moved their record to 29-20. Heartland closed their season at 18-26-1. 

The Cougar defense was on point from the beginning, turning a Hawks' lead-off single into a double play. Third baseman Kayleigh Harr fielded a grounder, relayed to second baseman Kelsey Bartels who touched second, and threw to Herrick at first to keep the base paths clear. 

Nivarra Oredina got ICC going in the bottom of the first, tagging a 1-0 pitch for a lead-off triple to right. She later scored on a passed ball for a 1-0 lead.

HCC struck in the second on a walk, single, and double for a 2-1 lead. The Cougars tied the game in the home half as Campbell drew a lead-off walk followed by an Oredina single. A Bartels' bunt moved Campbell to third, and she scored on a sacrifice fly by Harr for a 2-2 score. 

Heartland added a run in the fourth on two walks and a two-out single for a 3-2 advantage.

The Cougars turned the tide in the fourth as Cassidee Bauer led off with a base hit to left field. After Olivia Strawn walked, Guenther smoked a 1-2 pitch to right for a three-run homer giving ICC a 5-3 lead, one they would not relinquish. 

Compton settled in on the mound in the fifth with a three-up, three-down inning. Meanwhile, the Cougar bats kept the Hawks' pitching on the ropes as Bauer drew a one-out walk in the fifth and Strawn tagged a single to center. Guenther came through again, this time with a double to right field to score Bauer. Zoe Eeten followed suit, nailing a 2-2 pitch to center field for two RBI and an 8-3 Cougar advantage. 

Herrick added a solo home run in the sixth for a 10-3 lead. 

Heartland gave one last gasp in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with no outs. But the ICC defense came through again, turning a double play (SS Oredina to 2B Bartles to 1B Herrick) that limited the Hawks to just one run. An HCC ground out to Oredina ended the game as the Cougars took the title. 

COUGAR HITTING
Graci Guenther | 2-3, 4 RBI, home run, double
Bailey Herrick | 1-4, 2 RBI, home run
Zoe Eeten | 1-3, 2 RBI
Kayleigh Harr | RBI
Nivarra Oredina | 3-4, triple
Olivia Strawn | 3-3

COUGAR PITCHING
Emily Compton | 7.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 K

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
CENTRAL DISTRICT TOURNAMENT - at Mineral Area, Park Hills, MO

Saturday, May 10
10:00 am - Game 1: #1 Mineral Area (29-17-2) vs. #2 Illinois Central (29-20)
12:10 pm - Game 2: #2 Parkland (36-14) vs. #3 St. Louis (36-10)
  2:20 pm - Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
  4:30 pm - Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Sunday, May 11
11:00 am - Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4
  1:15 pm - Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5
  3:30 pm - If necessary game 

Central District Champion will advance to NJCAA DII World Series at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, AL on May 20-25.