Springfield, Ill. - Laila Harris's grand slam in the top of the seventh of Game 2 propelled the #19 Illinois Central College softball team to a split with Lincoln Land on Wednesday in Region 24 action. The Cougars won 7-4 in the night cap after falling in Game 1 by a score of 3-1.

ICC is now 25-13 overall and 15-5 in Region 24 and will be back in action tomorrow at Heartland.  LLCC's record is 17-16-1 overall and 10-10 in Region play. 

Game 1: Lincoln Land 3, (#19) Illinois Central 1
The opener was a pitcher's duel early. After the Loggers took a 1-0 lead in the third, Bailey Herrick's solo home run tied the score  in the top of the sixth.

LLCC answered with two runs in the bottom half of the sixth for the win.
 
Game 1 Hitting
Bailey Herrick | 1-2, RBI, home run
Cassidee Bauer | 1-2, double

Game 1 Pitching
Meadow Terry | 6.0, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2K

Game 2: (#19) Illinois Central 7, Lincoln Land 4
The teams each scored runs in the same inning---in the first, fifth, and seventh as the Cougars prevailed thanks to Harris's heroics. 

Danni Neppl led off the game with a double and advanced to third on a Harris fly ball and scored courtesy of a Kayleigh Harr single for a 1-0 lead. The Loggers matched that in the bottom half to make the score 1-1.

Pitcher Bailey Herrick and the Cougar defense held the Loggers scoreless in the next few innings and Herrick helped her own cause in the fifth with a lead-off double on a 3-1 pitch that she lined to left field. Herrick moved to third on a Terry sacrifice bunt and scored on Cassidee Bauer's sacrifice fly for a 2-1 lead. 

The Loggers answered in the home half on a two-run homer to take a 3-2 lead. 

In the seventh, Terry's two-out walk got the winning rally started. Bauer singled and Abbie Lohman's RBI base hit tied the score at 3-all. Neppl was hit by a pitch to extend the inning and load the bases, bringing up Harris who nailed an 0-1 pitch to center to clear the bases and a 7-3 lead.

LLCC scored a run in the bottom of the seventh for the final margin.

Herrick pitched the complete game, scattering five hits and striking out five. 

Game 2 Hitting
Laila Harris | 1-4, 4 RBI, grand slam
Abbie Lohman | 2-3, RBI
Bailey Herrick | 1-4, double
Danni Neppl | 1-3, double
Samantha Verstraete | 1-4, double

Game 2 Pitching
Bailey Herrick | 7.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 K

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Thursday, April 23
at Heartland
3pm - DH
Corn Crib - Normal, IL