CROWN POINT, Ind. -- The Parkside softball team had their season come to a close on Thursday afternoon, coming up short twice on the opening day of the 2026 GLIAC Softball Tournament. Parkside held the lead late in game one against Purdue Northwest, but the Pride plated three runs in the top of the seventh to send the Rangers into an elimination game by a 7-6 final score. Parkside struck first in the elimination game against Davenport, but the Panthers were able to score eight unanswered to take the contest 8-1.
GAME ONE vs. Purdue Northwest
The fourth-seeded Parkside Rangers held the lead late Thursday afternoon, but fifth-seeded Purdue Northwest Pride used a three-run seventh inning to escape with a 7–6 victory in the opening round of the 2026 GLIAC Softball Tournament.
Parkside jumped out to an early advantage in the bottom of the first inning behind a big swing from
Isabel Aranda. After
Elodie Sullivan was hit by a pitch, Aranda launched a two-run homer to left center to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead.
The Rangers added to the lead in the fourth inning.
Reese Valha opened the frame with a double before
Jadyn Polerecky ripped an RBI double to left field. Later in the inning, Aranda delivered again with an RBI single to push the Parkside advantage to 4-0.
Casey Jo Vermett was in control through four innings, allowing just two hits while striking out six. Purdue Northwest broke through in the fifth inning, however, loading the bases before Jessy Del Toro cleared them with a three-run double to tie the game at 4-4.
Parkside answered immediately in the bottom of the sixth.
Mia Johnson led off with a triple to right field, and Sullivan followed with an RBI single to restore the Rangers' lead at 5-4.
Megan Medlin later added a single in the inning, and
Kendall Woods stole second to move the potential insurance run into scoring position, but the Rangers stranded two runners.
The Pride delivered the decisive blow in the seventh inning. Amanda DeBoer and Del Toro both singled before Grace Wilson came off the bench and lined a three-run double to center field, putting Purdue Northwest in front 7-5.
Parkside mounted one final rally in the bottom of the seventh.
CICI Di Silvio doubled to center field and pinch runner
Peyton Klikno later scored on a
Taylor Utrata RBI groundout to trim the deficit to one, but the Rangers were unable to complete the comeback.
Aranda finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and a home run to lead the Parkside offense. Di Silvio collected two hits, while Johnson tripled and scored twice. Sullivan added a hit, RBI, and walk in the loss.
Vermett went the distance in the circle, striking out eight over seven innings.
GAME TWO vs. Davenport
The Parkside softball season came to a close on Thursday evening as the Rangers fell to Davenport 8-1 in an elimination game at the 2026 GLIAC Tournament at the Crown Point Sportsplex.
The Rangers struck first in the opening inning when
Mia Johnson launched a solo home run to left field to give Parkside an early 1-0 advantage. Johnson continued her strong day at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with the home run and accounting for three of Parkside's seven hits.
Davenport answered in the top of the second inning, capitalizing on a pair of Ranger errors to plate four unearned runs and take a 4-1 lead. The Panthers added another run in the third on a solo home run from Ally Prasnjak before extending the lead to 6-1 in the fourth inning.
Parkside threatened in the third after Johnson and
Isabel Aranda recorded consecutive singles, but the Rangers were unable to push a run across. Aranda added a second hit later in the contest and finished 2-for-4.
CICI Di Silvio recorded a double in the fourth inning while
Reese Valha added a hit in the second. The Rangers also put two runners aboard in the sixth after a walk from
Ava Swain and a hit-by-pitch to Di Silvio, but Davenport escaped the inning without damage.
The Panthers added two more runs in the fifth inning behind an RBI single from Lyla Reynolds to extend the lead to 8-1.
Holly Lowenberg took the loss in the circle after striking out four over 4.2 innings, while
Melanie Andrysiak tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.
Parkside finishes the 2026 campaign with a 25-29 overall record. You can keep up with all things Parkside softball at ParkisdeRangers.com.
