RANTOUL, Ill. – The No. 14 ranked Parkland College Baseball team split a doubleheader against visiting John Wood Community College on Sunday, April 2nd, defeating the Blazers 8-3 in game one before losing 15-7 in game two. The Cobras (23-8) (7-5) trailed in the first game, coming from behind to win their 11th game at the Rantoul Sports Complex, but the Blazers (19-11) (5-7) rallied to win the second game and split the season series with Parkland. Freshman Chase Becker continued his strong stretch of play, leading the Cobras in hits with four, including home runs in both games.
No. 14 Parkland College 8, John Wood Community College 3
The Cobras trailed 2-1 after an action-packed first two innings, and Parkland took a 4-2 lead on a 2-run single from catcher Tyler Herron (1-3, 2 RBI) in the bottom of the 3rd. Shortstop Jackson Blemler doubled the Cobra lead with a 2-RBI double in the 4th before the Blazers got one back in the top of the 5th. Left fielder Chase Becker (1-3, HR) lifted a solo shot to left field in the 5th, and Blemler (3-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R) hit his first homer of the season in the 6th as Parkland won 8-3.
Starting pitcher Alex Pipes (5-0) allowed two earned runs on five hits and five walks in his fifth start this season, striking out five batters in the win. Freshman Brenden Katz (3.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER) relieved Pipes in the 5th inning.
John Wood CC 15, Parkland 7
Parkland took a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning on a Chase Becker home run, but John Wood quickly tied the game in the bottom half. The Blazers took a 3-2 lead on an error in the top of the 3rd, but the Cobras retook the lead on Becker’s (2-2, 2 HR, 6 RBI, BB, SB) second long ball of the day, putting the team up 6-3 in the 5th. John Wood rallied in the top of the 7th to go up 8-6 before a 7-run 8th inning gave the Blazers a late 9-run lead. Freshman Angelo Luna (2-4, HR, 2 R) smacked a homer in the bottom of the 8th, but Parkland couldn’t overcome the late rally, and the Cobras lost 15-7.
Starting pitcher Louis Stallone (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) faced 10 batters in the redshirt sophomore’s first start, and freshman William O’Gorman (2-2) struck out seven in the loss. Freshmen Richie Snider, Drew Evans, and Alejandro Maltos-Garcia each appeared in the 8th inning.
Up next, the Cobras travel to Bloomington, Illinois, for a game against Illinois Wesleyan University JV on Wednesday, April 5th. First pitch against the Titans is 5:00 PM on Wednesday.
