East Peoria, Ill. - The #19 Illinois Central College softball team finished the regular season on a high note as they swept John Wood 9-1, 9-0 at Thome Field on Sophomore Day on Friday. Pitchers Meadow Terry and Kennedy Cleeton each held down the Blazer offense while the Cougars scored early and often to get the wins. 

ICC is now 26-12 overall and 17-7 in Region 24 while JWCC dropped to 15-29.

Game 1: (#19) Illinois Central 9, John Wood 1
After taking a 1-0 lead in the first on a Samantha Verstraete RBI single, ICC used a two-out rally to tack on six more runs in the second for a commanding lead. Cassidee Bauer drew a walk, Kaitlyn Atkinson singled to center and Danni Neppl had a two-RBI double for a 3-0 advantage. Laila Harris then doubled and Verstraete and Bailey Herrick each singled as the Cougars went up 7-0.

John Wood scored their lone run in the fourth but the Cougars got two runs in the bottom half on a Kayleigh Harr single, Verstraete base hit, and Herrick two-RBI double for the final margin. 

Pitcher Meadow Terry got the win, striking out four and giving up just one hit.
 
Game 1 Hitting
Bailey Herrick | 2-3, 3 RBI, double
Danni Neppl | 1-3, 2 RBI, double
Samantha Verstraete | 3-3, RBI
Kayleigh Harr | 2-3, RBI
Laila Harris | 1-3, RBI, double

Game 1 Pitching
Meadow Terry | 5.0, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 K

Game 2: (#19) Illinois Central 9, John Wood 0
The Cougars scored two in the first on a Neppl lead-off single. Verstraete singled and Herrick poked a double to left field for a 2-0 lead. 

ICC broke the game open with a seven-run fourth inning as both Bauer and Terry had two run homers. After Abbie Lohman was hit by a pitch, singles by Neppl, Harris, Harr, and Herrick made the score 9-0.

Kennedy Cleeton picked up the win, striking out three and scattering four hits. 

Game 2 Hitting
Bailey Herrick | 2-3, 3 RBI, double
Meadow Terry | 1-3, 2 RBI, home run
Cassidee Bauer | 1-2, 2 RBI, home run
Kayleigh Harr | 1-3, RBI
Samantha Verstraete | 1-3, RBI

Game 2 Pitching
Kennedy Cleeton | 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 K

OTHER
Six sophomores were honored in between games for their time and dedication to the program: Kennedy Cleeton, Meadow Terry, Morgan Kessler, Kayleigh Harr, Bayleigh Herrick, and Cassidee Bauer.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
May 2-3
Region Tournament
Time, opponent, & location TBA