CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 3 ranked Parkland College Softball team added two more conference wins on Sophomore Day on Saturday, April 15th, as the Cobras defeated Heartland Community College 6-0 and 8-2 to complete the regular season series sweep. The Cobras (37-9) (12-0) remained undefeated in M-WAC play with two wins on Saturday. Starting pitchers Ellie Vetter (9-1) and Karley Yergler (17-7) picked up wins against the Hawks (8-20) (3-11), and sophomore Emma Hardiek led the Cobras with four RBI in the sweep.
Up next, Parkland hosts another conference doubleheader against Lincoln Land Community College on Wednesday, April 19th. First pitch against the Loggers (10-23) (2-10) is scheduled for 2:00 PM at the Parkland College Softball Field.
Game 1: No. 3 Parkland College 6, Heartland Community College 0
The Cobras got the scoring started in the bottom of the 1st inning, taking a 2-0 lead when Emma Mason (1-3, RBI) singled in Ryleigh Owens (1-3, R) and Delaney Melton (0-2, RBI, R, HBP) scored Lizzie Stiverson (1-3 R) with an RBI groundout. Freshmen Maddie Reed (2-2, 3B, RBI, BB) drove in Ellie Vetter (1-3, R) with an RBI triple in the 2nd, and sophomore Emma Hardiek lifted a 3-run home run to right field to extend the lead to 6-0.
Freshman Ellie Vetter (7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 8 K) pitched a complete-game shutout on Saturday afternoon, striking out eight batters. Sophomore first baseman Jaidi Davis (2-3, R) doubled twice as Parkland closed out the 6-0 win in game one on sophomore day.
Game 2: No. 3 Parkland 8, HCC 2
Parkland trailed early in game two when Heartland took a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning, but the Cobras got one back in the bottom half, and the hosts took a 3-2 lead on a Jaden Corley (2-4, 2B RBI) single in the bottom of the 3rd, scoring Jaidi Davis (2-3, RBI, R).
Freshmen pitcher Karley Yergler (5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 11 K) caused the Hawks problems in the circle and at the plate as the Mahomet native crushed her fourth home run of the season in the 4th to make it 4-2 Cobras and back-to-back RBI singles in the bottom of 5th gave Parkland a 7-2 lead.
Outfielder Payton Roberts (0-2, RBI, R, SB) scored shortstop Lizzie Stiverson (2-4, 3 R, 2 SB) in the 6th to extend the lead, and the Cobras cruised to an 8-2 win in game two.
