Peoria, Ill. -  Laila Harris's five RBI led the way for the #22 Illinois Central College softball team in a 22-0 win over St. Louis on Friday at the Louisville Slugger Dome in five innings. The Washington native hit the Cougars' first home run of the season to left field and then doubled in the second inning as each Cougar in the starting lineup recorded a hit in the opener.

ICC lost the second game of the day to #9 Rock Valley by a score of 12-2 in five innings. 

GAME 1 RESULT: #22 Illinois Central 22, St. Louis 0
The Cougars tallied 11 runs in the opening inning as Danni Neppl led off the game with a base hit and scored on Harris's homer. Meadow Terry walked, Samantha Verstraete and Bailey Herrick each singled, and then Cassidee Bauer walked to make the score 4-0. Morgan Kessler and Neppl singled and Harris walked for a 7-0 lead. Harr hit into a fielder's choice but two STLCC errors allowed ICC runs for an 11-0 advantage.

Other highlights included back-to-back doubles by Neppl and Harris in the second inning as the Cougars went up 15-0. 

More runs came in the fifth inning courtesy of doubles by Harr and Atkinson as well as singles from Herrick and Bauer for the total of 22 runs.  

GAME 1 HITTING
Danni Neppl | 4-6, 2 RBI. double
Laila Harris | 2-5, 5 RBI, home run, double
Kayleigh Harr | 2-5, 2 RBI, double
Meadow Terry | 2-4, RBI
Bailey Herrick | 2-5, 2 RBI
Cassidee Bauer | 2-4, 2 RBI
Kaitlyn Atkinson | 1-4, 2 RBI, double
Morgan Kessler | 2-4, 2 RBI
Samantha Verstraete | 2-4

GAME 1 PITCHING
Meadow Terry | 5.0 IP, 8 K, 1 H

GAME 2 RESULT: #9 Rock Valley 12, #22 Illinois Central 2
The Eagles took control early by scoring four runs in the top of the first. ICC countered with one run in the bottom of the first when Neppl led off with a double and scored on an RVC error.

RVC added two more runs in the second to make it 8-1 in the fourth with a home run. 

The Cougars continued to battle as Verstraete led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk, Herrick singled, and Bauer grounded out to score Verstraete, cutting the RVC lead to 8-2.

Rock Valley added four runs in the top of the fifth for the final margin.

ICC's record is now 3-1 on the season.

GAME 2 HITTING
Bailey Herrick | 2-2, double
Danni Neppl | 1-3, double
Cassidee Bauer | RBI

GAME 2 PITCHING
Bailey Herrick | 3.0 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 4 K, 1 BB
Kaitlyn Atkinson | 2.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 K, 2 BB

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Friday, March 6 at 10:30 am
vs. Indian Hills (DH)
Louisville Slugger Dome
Peoria, IL