KENOSHA, Wis. – The Parkside softball team split its doubleheader against Purdue Northwest on Tuesday at Case Softball Complex, cruising to a 15-3 five-inning win in game one before falling 10-8 in a tight back-and-forth game two.
Freshman Isabel Aranda starred in her debut at Case Softball Complex, going a combined 5-for-6 with two home runs, three doubles and nine RBI across the two games. Parkside finished the day with 23 runs on 20 hits and produced multiple big offensive innings in both contests.
GAME ONE (PARKSIDE 15, PURDUE NORTHWEST 3 [5 INN]):
Parkside wasted no time taking control of the opener, erupting for seven runs in the bottom of the first and never looking back.
Mia Johnson drew a leadoff walk, CICI Di Silvio followed with a single, and Ava Swain walked to load the bases. Taylor Utrata then brought home the game's first run with an RBI walk before Aranda ripped a two-run double to right to make it 3-0. Maddie Hernandez followed with an RBI single, Megan Medlin added a run-scoring single of her own, and Peyton Klikno brought in another with a groundout. Medlin later scored on a passed ball to cap the seven-run frame.
The Rangers added three more in the second. Swain walked and Reese Valha reached on a free pass before Hernandez launched a three-run home run down the leftfield line, stretching the lead to 10-0.
Purdue Northwest got on the board in the fourth with a two-run single from Olivia Hernandez, but Parkside answered again in a big way in the bottom half. Aranda led off with a solo home run to right, Kendall Woods walked and came around to score, Medlin drilled a two-run double to left, and Johnson followed with a two-run double to right-center as the Rangers pushed the margin to 15-2.
The Pride added one more run in the fifth on an RBI double from Kylie Madura, but Holly Lowenberg finished off the five-inning win in the circle.
Parkside scored its 15 runs on 10 hits and drew eight walks in the opener. Hernandez had a huge game, going 2-for-2 with a home run, four RBI, three runs scored and a walk. Medlin also went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored, while Aranda finished 2-for-3 with a homer, a double and three RBI. Johnson doubled, drove in two and walked twice, Swain reached base three times with a hit and two walks, and Klikno added a hit and an RBI.
Lowenberg earned the win after allowing five hits and three runs, two earned, over five innings. She walked three and struck out three.
Purdue Northwest totaled five hits in game one. Olivia Hernandez drove in two, Madura doubled and knocked in one, and Gracie Jensen scored twice.
GAME TWO (PURDUE NORTHWEST 10, PARKSIDE 8):
The second game turned into a much tighter battle, with both teams trading momentum before Purdue Northwest used a five-run fifth inning to escape with the split.
Parkside struck first in the opening inning. Johnson doubled to the right-center gap, Swain walked, and Utrata singled to load the bases. Aranda then cleared them with a three-run double to left-center, giving the Rangers an early 3-0 lead.
Purdue Northwest answered in the third. Amanda DeBoer walked and Gracie Jensen followed with a two-run homer to left-center to tie the game. Later in the inning, Sylvia Mudis tripled to center to score two more and give the Pride a 4-3 advantage.
The Rangers responded right away in the bottom half. Johnson doubled again, Di Silvio reached on an infield single and advanced on a throwing error, and Utrata grounded out to bring Johnson home and tie the game. Aranda then came through again with an RBI double to right-center, putting Parkside back in front 5-4.
Purdue Northwest tied the game in the fourth on an RBI single from Jensen, and the decisive swing came an inning later. The Pride loaded the bases on two walks and another free pass, then took the lead on an RBI walk to Jessy Del Toro. A wild pitch brought home another run, DeBoer added an RBI single, and Jensen capped the inning with a two-run single up the middle to make it 10-5.
Parkside still had another push left. Ava Swain tripled to right in the fifth, and Aranda followed with a two-run home run to right to cut the deficit to 10-7. Maddie Hernandez was then hit by a pitch, and Medlin roped a double over the center fielder's head to bring Parkside within 10-8.
The Rangers threatened again in the sixth when Peyton Klikno doubled and Swain was hit by a pitch, but Purdue Northwest stranded both runners and then retired Parkside in order in the seventh to close out the game.
Aranda delivered one of the biggest offensive performances of the season in game two, going 3-for-3 with a home run, two doubles and six RBI. Johnson added two doubles and scored twice, Swain tripled, scored twice and reached base three times, Medlin doubled and drove in a run, Utrata had a hit and an RBI, Di Silvio singled and scored, and Klikno added a double.
Parkside finished with 10 hits in the loss, with six going for extra bases.
Purdue Northwest countered with 11 hits in game two and got a huge performance from Jensen, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBI. Mudis doubled, tripled and drove in two, while DeBoer had two hits and an RBI.
The split leaves Parkside at 12-15 overall and 2-2 in GLIAC play. The Rangers head to Michigan for two doubleheaders this weekend, beginning in Detroit on Saturday, March 28, at Wayne State with first pitch set for noon CT.
To keep up with the Rangers this weekend, be sure to visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
