East Peoria, Ill.- Four home runs powered the #3 seeded Illinois Central College softball team to a 9-3 victory over #4 seed Lincoln Land to claim the Region 24-B Championship at Thome Field on Sunday afternoon. Laila Harris, Kayleigh Harr, Danni Neppl, and Cassidee Bauer all homered while Meadow Terry struck out five to get the win.

Neppl led the way at the plate going 3-4 for 3 RBI, including a home run, double, and single. 

With the win, ICC (30-14) advances to next weekend's four-team District Tournament on May 8-9 at Parkland in Champaign. Lincoln Land closes their season at 20-21-1. 

The Cougars led from start to finish, opening up the scoring with two runs in the second. Terry had a lead-off single, Bauer walked, and then both scored on Neppl's two-out double to center field. 

LLCC got a run in the third to trim the Cougars' lead to 2-1 but ICC added three runs in the fourth on two two-run homers. Ryan Coombs reached base on an error and Bauer drilled the first pitch over the left field fence. Then, Kaitlyn Atkinson then singled and Neppl homered to right field for a 5-1 lead. 

Harr led off the fifth with a double and scored on Samantha Verstraete's single for a 6-1 advantage. 

The Loggers scored a run in the fifth but ICC responded with a Neppl single and back-to-back blasts from Harris and Harr for the final margin. 

COUGAR HITTING
Danni Neppl | 3-4, 3 RBI, home run, double
Laila Harris | 2-4, 2 RBI, home run
Cassidee Bauer | 1-2, 2 RBI, home run
Kayleigh Harr | 2-3, RBI, home run
Samantha Verstraete | 1-4, RBI

COUGAR PITCHING
Meadow Terry | 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 K

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS 
District Tournament
May 8-9
Time & opponent TBA
at Parkland College
Champaign, IL