Peoria, Ill. - Danni Neppl (2), Kayleigh Harr, and Samantha Verstraete all homered and Kennedy Cleeton pitched a no-hitter to help lead the #18 Illinois Central College softball team to a sweep of Lewis & Clark on Thursday, winning 10-2 and 9-0 in Region 24 action at the Louisville Slugger Dome. 

Neppl's five RBI and Meadow Terry's pitching (10 strikeouts) led the way in the opener while Harr and Verstraete combined for four RBI in the second game. Cleeten's no-no saw her strike out seven, moving ICC's record to 19-5 overall and 8-0 on the season. Lewis & Clark dropped to 2-29.

GAME 1: (#18) Illinois Central 10, Lewis & Clark 2 (5 innings)
The Cougars used a six-run fifth inning to end the game early, smacking a total of ten hits in the opener.

Neppl's two-run shot to center field put ICC ahead 2-0 in the first. LCCC answered in the top of the second with two runs, but ICC grabbed the lead in the bottom half on a Laila Harris walk and stolen base. She scored on a Neppl RBI single to left field for a 3-2 advantage. 

The Cougars plated another run in the third as Meadow Terry doubled and stole home for a 4-2 lead.

In the sixth, Samantha Verstraete was hit by a pitch to start the inning, followed by a Terry single. Bailey Herrick poked an RBI double to center field, and Abbie Lohman's sacrifice fly scored Terry for a 6-2 lead. Cassidee Bauer singled to left, Kaitlyn Atkinson doubled, and Harris walked before Neppl's second homer on an 0-1 pitch ended the game.

Terry cruised on the mound, fanning 10 LCCC batters while allowing just one hit. 

GAME 1 HITTING
Danni Neppl | 3-4, 5 RBI, 2 home runs
Bailey Herrick | 2-2, RBI, double
Meadow Terry | 2-3, double
Kaitlyn Atkinson | 1-3, RBI, double
Abbie Lohman | RBI

GAME 1 PITCHING
Meadow Terry | 5 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 10 K

GAME 2: (#18) Illinois Central 9, Lewis & Clark 0
The Cougars scored in every inning except the first to get the win, getting on the board in the second courtesy of two walks, two doubles (Harris & Neppl) and a Verstraete single for a 3-0 advantage.

ICC scored two more runs in the third on Herrick, Cassidee Bauer, and Morgan Kessler doubles along with sacrifice bunts by Ryan Coombs and Harris to go up 5-0. Verstraete led off the fourth with a solo home run to right field and in the fifth, Harr put the finishing touches on the day with a three-run blast to center.

Kleeton threw a total of 69 pitches, with 44 of them being strikes in the win.

GAME 2 HITTING
Kayleigh Harr | 1-2, 2 RBI, home run
Samantha Verstraete | 2-3, 2 RBI, home run
Danni Neppl | 2-2, RBI, double
Cassidee Bauer | 1-2, RBI, double
Morgan Kessler | 1-2, RBI, double
Bailey Herrick | 1-3, doubled

GAME 2 PITCHING
Kennedy Cleeton | 5.0 IP, 7 K - 1st no hitter in college career

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Monday, April 6 
3:00 pm DH
at #16 Parkland
Dodds Athletic Complex
Champaign, IL