East Peoria, Ill. - The #20 Illinois Central College softball team used the long ball to sweep (RV) Danville Area 9-8, 8-3 on Wednesday afternoon in Region 24 action at Thome Field. The Cougars hit five home runs as Bailey Herrick (2), Samantha Verstraete, Kayleigh Harr, and Abbie Lohman all went yard, improving ICC's record to 15-5 overall and 4-0 in Region 24.

On the mound, Meadow Terry and Bailey Herrick pitched complete games to move the Cougars' win streak to seven and drop Danville's record to 23-9.

GAME 1: #20 Illinois Central 9, (RV) Danville 8
The Cougars rallied in the final three innings to get the comeback win.

Herrick got ICC on track with her first homer to lead off the bottom of the second for a 1-all tie but Danville surged in the third with four runs to take a 5-1 lead.

Herrick's second home run was a three-run shot in the fourth inning that scored Verstraete (who had doubled) and Terry (hit by pitch) to draw ICC to within 5-4.

ICC took a 6-5 lead in the fifth when Harr and Verstraete singled and Terry walked to load the bases. Herrick poked a 1-1 pitch to left that scored Harr and Danni Neppl's sacrifice fly scored Verstraete. 

DACC took the lead back in the sixth on two solo home runs for a 7-6 advantage, but the Cougars answered when Kaitlyn Atkinson was hit by a pitch with two outs to start a rally. Harr singled and then Verstraete homered to right for a 9-7 ICC lead.

The Jaguars scored a run in the top of the seventh on two singles and a double to pull to within 9-8 and threatened with a runner on third, but Terry induced a fly ball for the final out to get the win.

GAME 1 HITTING
Bailey Herrick | 3-3, 5 RBI, 2 home runs
Samantha Verstraete | 3-3, 2 RBI, home run, double
Kayleigh Harr | 2-4, RBI
Danni Neppl | 1-2, RBI

GAME 1 PITCHING
Meadow Terry | 7.0 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 3 K

GAME 2: #20 Illinois Central 8, (RV) Danville 3
ICC led from start to finish in the nightcap, highlighted by a five-run fourth inning.

Harr homered in the first and Lohman added a two-run homer in the second for a 3-0 lead.

DACC answered with 2 runs in the third to pull to within 3-2 but the pivotal fourth inning put the game away. Lohman had a lead-off double followed by a Cassidee Bauer single. Laila Harris's base hit scored Lohman and Neppl followed with a walk. Harr's base hit to center field scored Harris and Neppl and a 6-2 Cougar lead. Terry drew a two-out walk and Herrick had an RBI single for an 8-2 lead. 

The Jaguars scored a run in the top of the seventh for the final score. Herrick went the distance, scattering 9 hits and recording 2 strikeouts.

GAME 2 HITTING
Kayleigh Harr | 2-2, 3 RBI, home run
Bailey Herrick | 1-3, 2 RBI
Abbie Lohman | 2-3, 2 RBI, home run, double
Laila Harris | 1-4, RBI
Cassidee Bauer | 2-3, double

GAME 2 PITCHING
Bailey Herrick | 7.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 K

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Tuesday, March 31
vs. Heartland at 3:00 pm (DH)
Thome Field, East Peoria, IL