Moline, Ill. - Samantha Verstraete's three-run homer in the third inning and Cassidee Bauer's RBI single in the top of the seventh propelled the #16 Illinois Central College softball team to a 6-5 win over (RV) Black Hawk on Tuesday afternoon. The Cougars fell in the nightcap 6-2 for the split on the day, moving their record to 5-3 overall.

GAME 1 RECAP: #16 Illinois Central 6, (RV) Black Hawk 5
BHC (7-3) took a 2-0 lead after two innings before ICC put four runs on the board in the third as Morgan Kessler led off the inning by being hit by a pitch. Danni Neppl singled, followed by a Kayleigh Harr double for a 2-1 score. Verstraete then smacked an 0-1 pitch over the right field fence for a three-run homer to put the Cougars up 4-2.

ICC added to their lead in the fourth when Kessler reached on an error with two outs. Laila Harris and Neppl each singled, scoring Kessler for a 5-2 advantage. However, BHC answered with two runs in the fourth and one in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game.

In the seventh, Bailey Herrick singled with two outs and advanced to second on Kaitlyn Atkinson's single. Herrick then crossed the plate for the go-ahead run on Bauer's base hit to right field.

Meadow Terry scattered eleven hits and gave up five runs while striking out five to earn the win.

GAME 1 HITTING
Samantha Verstraete | 1-4, 3 RBI, home run
Kayleigh Harr | 2-3, RBI, double
Danni Neppl | 2-4, RBI
Cassidee Bauer | 1-4, RBI

GAME 1 PITCHING
Meadow Terry | 7.0 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 5 K

GAME 2 RECAP: (RV) Black Hawk 6, (#16) Illinois Central 2
ICC took a 1-0 lead in the third inning but only managed one more run after that as the Braves took the win. 

Ryan Coombs led off the third with a single to left field and was bunted over to second by Atkinson. Harris doubled to right field to bring Coombs in for a 1-0 lead. 

Black Hawk answered with a three-spot in the fourth for a 3-1 lead. Harr had a solo home run to left field to bring the Cougars to within 3-2 but BHC plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth for the final score.

GAME 2 HITTING
Laila Harris | 1-4, RBI, double
Kayleigh Harr | 1-3, RBI
Samantha Verstraete | 1-3, double

GAME 2 PITCHING
Bailey Herrick | 6.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 1 K

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Saturday, March 14
at The Spring Games - Melbourne, FL
8am CST vs. Hocking
10am CST vs. Williston State