ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Parkside softball team closed its regular-season road slate in dominant fashion Wednesday, sweeping Roosevelt by scores of 10-0 in six innings and 4-0.
The Rangers shut out the Lakers in both games, getting a one-hit complete-game shutout from Casey Jo Vermett in the opener and a three-hit complete-game shutout from Holly Lowenberg in game two. With the sweep, Parkside's magic number to clinch a GLIAC Tournament spot is down to one.
GAME ONE (PARKSIDE 10, ROOSEVELT 0 [6 INN]):
Parkside grabbed an early lead and then broke the game wide open late, backing Vermett's dominant effort in the circle with 10 runs on 11 hits.
The Rangers struck first in the second inning. CICI Di Silvio doubled to right center, and Taylor Utrata followed with a single to right. Di Silvio came home on the play after a muffed throw by the catcher, giving Parkside a 1-0 lead.
Vermett took control from there. The right-hander struck out five of the first six outs she recorded and carried a no-hit bid into the fourth inning before Sophia Barofsky singled to third base. That would be Roosevelt's only hit of the game.
Parkside added two more in the fifth. Mia Johnson walked, Elodie Sullivan reached on an error, and Isabel Aranda doubled to right to score Johnson. Megan Medlin then lifted a sacrifice fly to right, bringing Sullivan home to make it 3-0.
The Rangers put the game away with a seven-run sixth inning. Di Silvio opened the frame with a double, Utrata walked, and Reese Valha singled to load the bases. Jadyn Polerecky followed with a two-run double to center, Johnson added an RBI single, and Aranda later lifted a sacrifice fly. Di Silvio capped the inning with her third double of the game, driving in two more runs to stretch the lead to 10-0.
Vermett finished the job in the bottom of the sixth, closing out her fourth complete-game shutout of the season. She allowed just one hit and no runs while walking two, hitting one batter and striking out 11 over six innings.
Di Silvio led Parkside offensively, going 3-for-4 with three doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. Utrata went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk, while Sullivan added two hits and scored twice. Aranda doubled and drove in two, Polerecky doubled and drove in two, Johnson reached base three times with a hit, two walks, an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base, and Valha added a hit and a run scored.
Roosevelt was limited to one hit, with Barofsky recording the lone base knock. The Lakers struck out 11 times and committed four errors.
GAME TWO (PARKSIDE 4, ROOSEVELT 0):
Lowenberg followed Vermett's gem with one of her own, tossing a three-hit complete-game shutout to finish off the sweep.
The game stayed scoreless through the first three innings before Parkside pushed across the first run in the fourth. Johnson singled up the middle, and Sullivan reached on a throwing error during a sacrifice bunt attempt. Johnson came around to score on the play, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
Lowenberg worked around early traffic, including two baserunners in the third and two more in the fourth. Roosevelt's best chance came in the fourth when Barofsky and Kennedy Calderon singled, but Barofsky was caught stealing at third and Lowenberg escaped the inning still in front.
Parkside added to the lead in the sixth. Valha singled down the left-field line, Sullivan singled through the left side, and Aranda doubled to left to bring Valha home and make it 2-0.
The Rangers added two insurance runs in the seventh. Ava Swain walked, Di Silvio also drew a walk, and Taylor Utrata moved both runners up with a groundout. Valha then singled to first to score Swain, and Polerecky grounded out to second to bring home Peyton Klikno and extend the lead to 4-0.
Lowenberg closed it out from there, retiring the Lakers in order in the seventh to complete her third shutout of the season. She allowed three hits and no runs while walking three and striking out six over seven innings.
Valha led the Rangers in game two, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Aranda doubled and drove in a run, Johnson singled, walked and scored, Sullivan added a hit and a sacrifice bunt, and Polerecky drove in a run.
Roosevelt finished with three hits, including two from Calderon. Lowenberg kept the Lakers off the board despite three walks and stranded four runners.
The sweep moved Parkside to 23-27 overall and brought the Rangers one step away from clinching a GLIAC Tournament spot. Parkside will conclude the regular season Saturday, May 2, against Roosevelt with a doubleheader beginning at noon CT.
To keep up with the Rangers, be sure to visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
