GAME 1: McKendree 4, Parkside 2
GAME 2: Southern Indiana 10, Parkside 2
The Parkside softball team finished out its opening weekend on Sunday afternoon at the Music City Invitational in Smyrna, Tennessee, but the Rangers will have to wait for their first win in 2022 as the team dropped both games.
 
The Rangers will make the short trip south to the Rosemont Dome starting on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 9 a.m.
 
GAME 1 RECAP
McKendree went up 3-0 after the first three innings of play, and held Parkside without a hit until the fourth inning. The Rangers made it 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning when senior Alyssa Laxson ripped a two-run double to left field to score junior Jadynn Powell and sophomore Taylor Delgado, who both reached on singles. Laxson, the tying run at the time, made it up to third base but Parkside couldn't push her across.
 
Laxson finished 2-for-4 with the double and two RBI while Powell went 2-for-3 with a run. Junior Dani Evans had a double. Senior Tijanne Ross suffered the loss, pitching the complete game with five strikeouts.
 
GAME 2 RECAP
Parkside took a 2-1 advantage in game two thanks to a 2-run third inning. Freshman CaroleAnn Goglin hit an RBI single to score Powell to make it 1-1 and the Rangers took the lead on a junior Cassie Rutledge RBI single that scored Laxson. Unfortunately the Rangers' offense went cold after that, and USI came alive, scoring three in the third, four in the fifth and two in the sixth to end the game early.
 
Parkside finished with eight hits in game two, as Rutledge finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. Goglin and freshman Tia Livernash each recorded their first career hit with Parkside. Senior Kiley Akey suffered the loss in game two, going 4.1 innings allowing 11 hits, eight runs (six earned). 

WEEKEND LEADERS
After one weekend of play for the Rangers, Delgado (.368) and Rutledge (.364) are leading the way offensively. Laxson has a team-high three RBI while Delgado also had two triples. Ross tossed a team-high 21.2 innings and Akey finished with 12.0.