CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 3 ranked Parkland College Softball team added two more wins at home on Friday, April 7th, defeating Mineral Area College 12-2 and 3-0 to extend its current win streak to 15 games. The Cobras (32-8) powered past the Cardinals, totaling seven extra-base hits, including home runs from Katy Hendricks in game one and Grace Bushur in game two. Parkland outhit Mineral Area 18-6, and starting pitchers Ellie Vetter (8-1) and Karley Yergler (15-6) each earned a win on Friday.
Up next, Parkland welcomes No. 14 Spoon River College to Champaign for a top-20 conference doubleheader tomorrow, April 8th. First pitch against the Snappers (27-8-1) (6-0) will be at 1:00 PM on Saturday.
Game 1: No. 3 Parkland College 12, Mineral Area College 2
The Cobras scored an unorthodox first run in the bottom of the 1st inning when Emma Mason (0-2, RBI, R) drove in Lizzie Stiverson (2-3, 2 R, 3 SB) on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, and starting pitcher Ellie Vetter (3-3, 2 RBI, 3 R, SB) gave the Cardinals more than they could handle on the mound and at the plate, leading Parkland to a 12-2 win.
Freshman Karley Yergler (2-3, 2 RBI, R) and sophomore Jade Baker (1-1, 2 RBI, R) came off the bench to lead the Cobras in RBI, and Katy Hendricks (1-2, HR, 2 RBI, BB) bust the game open with a 2-run home run in the 3rd inning.
Vetter (4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 6 K) didn’t allow a hit until the top of the 4th, facing 16 batters in her 14th start this season. Freshman Ryleigh Owens pitched a hitless 5th inning in relief.
Game 2: No. 3 Parkland 3, Mineral Area 0
The pitching was strong on both sides in game two, but Parkland finally broke through in the bottom of the 5th inning when Grace Bushur (1-3, HR, 2 RBI) lifted a 2-run home run over the left field wall, driving in Delaney Melton (1-2, R). Sophomore Jaidi Davis (1-3, 3B) tripled to open the 6th, and second basemen Emma Mason (1-3, RBI) drove in the pinch runner to extend the lead.
Freshman Karley Yergler (7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 16 K) shut down the Mineral Area offense, allowing just four singles and striking out 16 batters in a complete game to lead Parkland to a 3-0 win.
