ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The Parkside Rangers rallied in dramatic fashion Saturday afternoon, scoring eight runs in the fifth inning to defeat Hillsdale College 10–7 at Maryville Field.
 
Parkside struck first in the opening inning without recording a hit. Mia Johnson worked a leadoff walk and later scored after CICI Di Silvio reached on a throwing error that moved both runners into scoring position. Ava Swain followed with a sacrifice bunt that brought Johnson home, and Taylor Utrata added a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Rangers an early 2–0 lead.
 
Hillsdale answered in the second inning with a three-hit rally. A triple by Medleigh Danchak set the table, and RBI's from Olivia Liguori and Taylor Lewis helped the Chargers plate three runs to take a 3–2 advantage.
 
The Chargers added to their lead in the fourth inning. Emma Sather drove in a run with a double before Lewis delivered another RBI single to extend the Hillsdale lead to 5–2. Hillsdale pushed the margin to 7–2 in the fifth with a sacrifice fly from Danchak and an RBI double by Ronnie Craft.
 
Parkside's offense came alive in the bottom of the fifth in what became the decisive frame. After Di Silvio opened the inning with a double and Swain drew a walk, Isabel Aranda delivered an RBI double to right center to begin the comeback. Megan Medlin followed with an RBI single, and Maddie Hernandez ripped a run-scoring double to continue the surge. Peyton Klikno added an RBI single to cut the deficit to one before Johnson and Di Silvio both drew bases-loaded walks to force in runs and tie the game before Swain drew a third straight Ranger walk to give Parkside the lead.
 
With the bases still loaded, Utrata delivered the biggest swing of the inning, lining a two-run double to right field to give the Rangers a 10–7 lead and cap the eight-run outburst.
 
Holly Lowenberg was strong in relief to secure the victory in the circle. Entering in the fourth inning, the right-hander allowed two runs over 3.2 innings while scattering four hits and striking out two to improve to 3–3 on the season. Ellie Curtis made the start for Parkside and worked the first 3.1 innings.
 
Offensively, Parkside finished with eight hits and drew nine walks. Johnson scored twice and reached base four times with three walks, while Utrata drove in three runs with her late double. Medlin collected two hits and an RBI, and Hernandez, Klikno, Aranda, and Di Silvio each contributed key hits during the decisive fifth inning rally.
 
Parkside will be back in action Sunday with a doubleheader against UMSL beginning at 11:30 a.m. The games will be played at Incarnate Word Academy. To keep up with the Rangers over the weekend, be sure to visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.