East Peoria, Ill. - The #18 Illinois Central College softball team extended their win streak to nine games as they took down Heartland 14-6 (6 innings), 13-5 (5 innings) in Region 24 action on Tuesday afternoon at the Eastside Centre. The Cougars tallied 30 hits on the day and had contributions from up and down the lineup to get the sweep. 

ICC is now 17-5 overall and 6-0 in Region 24, while Heartland dropped to 7-15, 3-7. 

GAME 1: #18 ILLINOIS CENTRAL 14, HEARTLAND 6 (6 innings)
The Cougars led from start to finish as they cranked out 14 hits and finished the game off in the sixth with six runs. 

Laila Harris set the tone for the day with a lead-off triple and scored on a Kayleigh Harr sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead. HCC answered with a run in the top of the second but Heartland's miscues allowed the Cougars to go ahead 5-2 in the bottom of the second as Danni Neppl and Morgan Kessler reached on errors and Kaitlyn Atkinson was hit by a pitch. Meadow Terry cleared the bases with a three-run shot to center field for a 5-2 lead. 

Heartland got a run back in the third but ICC struck again in the fourth as Kessler had a lead-off base hit and scored on a Samantha Verstraete single. After a Hawk error, Neppl lined a single to right field for two more runs and an 8-3 lead. 

The Hawks pulled to within 8-6 in the top of the sixth but the Cougars shut the door in the home half. Harr singled, Verstraete doubled, and Herrick had a sacrifice fly to ignite the final surge. Neppl then clocked an 0-1 pitch to left field for a double followed by singles from Atkinson, Cassidee Bauer, Kessler, and a Harris double to end the game.

Terry went the distance on the mound, scattering seven hits and striking out five.

GAME 1 HITTING
Danni Neppl | 2-4, 3 RBI, double
Meadow Terry | 1-3, 3 RBI, home run
Morgan Kessler | 2-4, 2 RBI
Kayleigh Harr | 2-3, RBI
Samantha Verstraete | 3-4, RBI, 2 doubles
Bailey Herrick | 1-3, RBI
Laila Harris | 2-5, RBI, double

GAME 1 PITCHING
Meadow Terry | 6.0, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 5 K

GAME 2: #18 ILLINOIS CENTRAL 13, HEARTLAND 5 (5 innings)
Herrick's four RBI led the way for the Cougars as they shelled out 16 hits in the nightcap. ICC took a 4-0 lead after the first inning, added two in the second, three in the fourth, and ended the game with four runs in the fifth.

In the first, Neppl and Harr each singled followed by back-to-back-to back doubles (Verstraete, Herrick, and Coombs) to grab a 4-0 lead.

Heartland managed to get it all back plus more as they went up 5-4 in the top of the second. ICC regained control in the fourth as Neppl doubled, and Harr and Verstraete singled to load the bases. Neppl scored on a wild pitch followed by a Coombs walk and an Abbie Lohman single put ICC ahead 8-5. Bauer's sacrifice fly made it 9-5.

The fifth saw singles by Neppl and Coombs, a Herrick double, and a Heartland error which led to the final scoring. Herrick got the win, striking out five.

GAME 2 HITTING
Bailey Herrick | 3-4, 4 RBI, 2 doubles
Ryan Coombs | 3-3, 3 RBI, two doubles
Abbie Lohman | 1-3, 2 RBI
Cassidee Bauer | 1-1, RBI
Kayleigh Harr | 2-4, RBI
Samantha Verstraete | 2-4, RBI, double

GAME 2 PITCHING
Bailey Herrick | 5.0 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 K

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Thursday, April 2
vs. Lewis & Clark
10:00 am - DH
Louisville Slugger Complex, Peoria, IL