BELLEVILLE, Ill. – The Parkland College Baseball team held an early lead on the road against Southwestern Illinois College on Monday, March 6th, but the Blue Storm came storming back and handed the Cobras a 23-11 loss in their first road game of the season. Both Parkland (8-2) and SWIC (11-5) recorded 13 hits in the 7-inning game on Monday afternoon, but three home runs and 12 RBI from the Blue Storm designated hitter were too much for the Cobras to overcome. Parkland third basemen Austin Gomm led the team with three hits in the loss.
Up next, the Cobras travel to Millington, Tennessee, next weekend to compete in the USA Stadium March Madness II. Parkland opens with matchups against No. 6 Kirkwood Community College and Iowa Lakes Community College on Saturday, March 11th. First pitch against the sixth-ranked Eagles (8-3) will be at 11:00 AM, and first pitch versus the Lakers (0-4) will be at 4:00 PM.
Game 1: Southwestern Illinois College 23, Parkland College 11
The Cobras struck first, opening the game with a 4-run top of the 1st inning that featured RBI doubles from Tyler Herron (2-5, 2 RBI, 2 R), Chase Becker (1-4, 2 RBI, R, BB) and Austin Gomm (3-4, RBI, R, BB). The Blue Storm scored one in the bottom of the 1st, and the Cobras extended their lead to 9-1 in the top of the 2nd, capped by Ryan Snell (1-3, RBI, 2 R, BB, SB) scoring on a passed ball to give Parkland an 8-run lead. SWIC finally got it going in the bottom of the 3rd, scoring nine runs to take a 10-9 lead and driving in one more in the bottom of the 5th while Parkland struggled to score. The Cobras tied the game 11-11 in the top of the 6th on a bases-loaded hit by pitch, but a 12-run Blue Storm bottom half gave SWIC a comfortable lead, and Parkland lost 23-11 in Belleville.
Redshirt freshman Sam Bryan (2.1 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 4 K) started the game for the Cobras, facing 17 batters in his third appearance. Right-hander Alejandro Maltos-Garcia replaced Bryan in the 3rd inning, and freshman Sebastian Gutierrez (2.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 5 K) earned the loss in relief. Designated hitter Logan Reidelberger (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB) doubled twice and second basemen Jackson Blemler (2-4, 2 R, BB) got on base for the 10th straight game to open the season.
