MILLINGTON, Tenn. – The Parkland College Baseball team bounced back with two wins at the USA Stadium March Madness II on Sunday, March 11th. The Cobras defeated the Rock Valley Eagles 9-4 and the No. 6 Kirkwood Community College Eagles 4-2 to improve to 10-3 on the season. Sophomores Jaden Lamothe, Jake Vitale, and Austin Gomm each hit their first home run of the season on Sunday, and redshirt freshman Sam Bryan picked up his first win as a Cobra.
Game 1: Parkland College 9, Rock Valley College 4
The Eagles (6-8) drove in two runs in the top of the 1st, but the Cobras responded with five runs in the bottom half. Sophomore Tyler Herron (1-3, RBI, R) got the scoring started, driving in Jackson Blelmer (1-3, R, 2B, BB), and Ryan Snell (2-3, 2 R, 2 SB) capped the inning by stealing home, making the score 5-2. Parkland extended the lead in the bottom of the 3rd when Charlie Marisca (1-2, RBI, R, SB) drove a 2-RBI ground ball into right field, and second baseman Jaden Lamothe (1-3, 4 RBI, HR) smacked a 2-run home run over the right field fence to make it 9-2 Cobras. Rock Valley got two back in the top of the 5th, but Parkland won comfortably.
Starting pitcher Sam Bryan (1-0) struck out seven batters in five innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits in his fourth start. Freshmen Chase Becker (2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 K) made his second appearance, relieving Bryan in the sixth.
Game 2: Parkland College 4, No. 6 Kirkwood Community College 2
The Cobras got the first hit when Ryan Snell (2-3, R) singled in the bottom of the 2nd, but the rematch of yesterday’s rained-out game remained scoreless through three innings. Third basemen Austin Gomm (2-3, 2 RBI, HR) took advantage of a Snell triple in the 4th, lifting a 2-run home run over the left field wall to give Parkland the lead. Sophomore Jake Vitale (1-3, 2 RBI, HR) launched another 2-run home run in the 5th inning, making the score 4-0. The Eagles (12-5) scored in the bottom of the 6th and 7th, but it was too little, too late, and Parkland upset Kirkwood 4-2.
Sophomore starting pitcher Carter Monke (3-0) allowed just one earned run on six hits in the win, striking out seven batters in seven innings of work on 114 pitches.
Up next, the Cobras will have a day off before resuming play at the USA Stadium March Madness II on Tuesday, March 14th, when Parkland faces Iowa Lakes Community College. First pitch against the Lakers (1-6) is scheduled for 10:00 AM on Tuesday.
