VICKSBURG, Miss. – The No. 17 ranked Parkland College Softball team closed out the Hinds JUCO Classic by defeating No. 7 Copiah-Lincoln Community College 12-3 and East Mississippi Community College 15-0 on Saturday, February 25th. The Cobras (10-2) allowed just six hits across two games, as freshman Karley Yergler got the complete-game win over the seventh-ranked Wolf Pack (8-3), and Ellie Vetter and Marina Rohman combined to throw a one-hit shutout against the Lady Lions (3-14) in the team’s final game in Vicksburg.
“This was a great weekend for our team,” Dan Paulson concluded, “We will get one or two practices in before we hit the road again when we will face five extremely good opponents at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.”
Co-head coach Kristi Paulson praised her pitching staff after the 3-1 weekend in Mississippi, saying, “All five of our pitchers threw well this weekend. Ellie Vetter picked up three wins and didn’t give up an earned run, which is amazing to see.”
Game 1: No. 17 Parkland College 12, No. 7 Copiah-Lincoln Community College 3
The Cobras struck in the top of the 2nd, taking the lead on an Emma Hardiek RBI single before Karley Yergler (1-3, 3 RBI, HR) crushed a three-run home run over the centerfield wall, and Parkland led 4-0. In the next inning, freshman Lexi Griffin (3-3, 2 RBI, 2 R) drove an RBI double into center field, and Hardiek (2-2, 3 RBI, R) brought her home to give the Cobras a 7-0 lead. The Wolf Pack scored in the bottom half of the 3rd, but the Cobras scored four more in the top of the 4th to take a commanding 12-1 lead. Copiah-Lincoln drove in two in the bottom of the 5th inning, but Parkland came out on top, 12-3.
Yergler (5-2) allowed five hits and three earned runs in five innings of work, striking out three in her fifth start this season, and first basemen Jaidi Davis (1-1, 2 RBI, R, BB) didn’t record an out in the bounce-back win.
Game 2: No. 17 Parkland College 15, East Mississippi Community College 0
Parkland led 4-0 after catcher Lexie Griffin (1-2, 3 RBI, 2 R) hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the 1st, and the Cobras shut out the Lady Lions on their way to a 15-0 win. Grace Bushur (2-3, RBI, R) extended the Parkland lead on an RBI double in the bottom of the 2nd, and the Cobras led 9-0 following a 3-RBI double from Lizzie Stiverson (1-2) in the 3rd. Parkland scored six in the bottom of the 4th, and East Mississippi recorded their first hit with two outs in the top of the 5th as the Cobras closed out the Hinds JUCO Classic with a big win.
Starting pitcher Ellie Vetter (3-0) did not allow a hit in three innings, walking two and striking out four against the Lady Lions. Marina Rohman allowed just one hit in relief, throwing two shutout innings in her first appearance of the season.
“It was nice to see our bats come to life today,” co-head coach Dan Paulson said after his team’s 2-0 day. “We ended the weekend with 55 hits, with Lexie Griffin leading the way with eight hits, including four doubles and a home run.”
Up next, Parkland will travel to Columbus, Georgia to compete in the NFCA Leadoff Classic next weekend. The Cobras play two NJCAA Division I schools, No. 5 Wallace State Community College (9-2) and Gulf Coast State (11-4) College, on Friday, March 3rd, at the South Commons Softball Complex.
