NORMAL, Ill. – The No. 6 ranked Parkland College Softball team picked up two big wins over Heartland Community College on Sunday, March 26th, to begin M-WAC conference play 2-0. The Cobras (22-8) outhit their conference rival 20-6 at the Corn Crib, and freshmen catcher Kami Pearson led the way with four RBI on Sunday. Starting pitchers Ellie Vetter (6-1) and Karley Yergler (10-6) both earned the wins as the team won its fourth and fifth consecutive game.
Up next, the Cobras will host a conference doubleheader against Illinois Central College on Wednesday, March 29th, in the team’s home opener. The first pitch against the Cougars (7-7) is scheduled for 2:00 PM on Wednesday.
Game 1: No. 6 Parkland College 9, Heartland Community College 0
The Cobras took the lead over the Hawks (5-5) in the 2nd inning on an RBI single from Payton Roberts (1-2, RBI), scoring Bri Roloff (2-2, RBI, R, BB) and putting Parkland ahead. First basemen Jaidi Davis (1-4, 3 RBI, R) drove in Lizzie Stiverson in the top of the 3rd, and a 5-run 4th inning gave the Cobras a commanding 7-0 lead. Stiverson (2-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, SB) lined a 2-RBI double into center field in the top of the 5th to round out the scoring, and Parkland won game one 9-0.
Freshmen Ellie Vetter (4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 K) and Ryleigh Owens (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K) combined to shut out Heartland in game one, allowing just one hit between the two.
Game 2: No. 6 Parkland 8, Heartland CC 3
Parkland wasted no time in game two, taking a 4-0 lead on a Kami Pearson (2-2, 4 RBI, HR, 2B) grand slam in the top of the 1st inning, and the Cobras led 7-0 going into the bottom half. The Hawks quickly got a run back, but the Cobras regained a 7-run lead after Ryleigh Owns (3-4, 2 RBI, R, 2 2B) drove in Maddie Reed (2-3, RBI, 2 R, 3B) in the top of the 3rd. Heartland scored in the bottom of the 5th and 6th to trim the Parkland lead, but the Cobras held on to win 8-3 and start conference play 2-0.
Starting pitcher Karley Yergler (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5 K) struck out five of the nine batters she faced in her STAT start. Ryleigh Owens (5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 4 K) made her second relief appearance of the day in the 3rd inning, allowing just three hits over five innings of work.
