GODFREY, Ill. – The No. 3 ranked Parkland College Softball team continued its strong start to conference play on Thursday, April 6th, as the Cobras (30-8) (8-0) defeated Lewis & Clark Community College 11-2 and 4-1. The two wins extend the current Cobra winning streak to 13 games. Freshmen Emma Mason and Ellie Vetter each smacked a home run in game one, and third baseman Bri Roloff drove in a run in both games on Thursday.
Up next, Parkland hosts a doubleheader against Mineral Area College tomorrow, April 7th. First pitch against the Cardinals (2-25) is scheduled for 2:00 PM at the Parkland College Softball Field.
Game 1: No. 3 Parkland College 11, Lewis & Clark Community College 2
The Cobras fired up the offense in the 1st inning, taking the lead on a Kami Pearson RBI single before Bri Roloff (1-3, RBI) drove in Pearson (2-3, RBI, 2 R) to put Parkland ahead 2-0. Back-to-back RBI singles in the top of the 2nd gave the Cobras a 4-0 lead, and right fielder Ellie Vetter (2-3, HR) extended the lead with a solo home run in the 3rd. Second basemen Emma Mason (2-3, HR, 3 RBI) lifted a 3-run homer in the top of the 4th, her second of the year, and Parkland led 9-0 after Maddie Reed (1-1, R) scored on an error. Lewis & Clark got two runs back in the bottom of the 5th, but the Cobras never panicked and closed out the 11-2 win.
Freshman Karley Yergler (14-6) allowed two earned runs on four hits and three walks, striking out nine batters over five innings of work. Ryleigh Owens (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 K) relieved Yergler in the 6th, facing just four batters.
Game 2: No. 3 Parkland 7, Lewis & Clark CC 1
Parkland took the lead on a Bri Roloff (1-3, 2 RBI) sacrifice fly in the top of the 2nd, and Katy Hendricks doubled the lead later in the inning with an RBI single, scoring Ellie Vetter (1-3, R). The Cobras drove in two more runs in the top of the 3rd to lead 4-0, but the Trailblazers cut the deficit with a run in the bottom of the 4th. Parkland put the game away in the 7th inning with RBI doubles from Hendricks (2-3, 2 RBI, R) and Yergler (2-2, RBI) and an RBI groundout from Lizzie Stiverson, and the Cobras cruised to the 7-1 victory.
Starting pitcher Ryleigh Owens (7-1) struck out four batters in her fifth start this season, allowing just one run and two hits over four innings. Freshman Ellie Vetter (3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 5 K) shut out Lewis & Clark in her third appearance out of the bullpen.
