May 1, 2026 - The Kishwaukee College Softball team headed to play in the NJCAA Region 4 tournament on Friday to take on opponents in the Bryant and Stratton section of the double elimination quarterfinal tournament.  In game one, the Kougars couldn't keep up with Illinois Valley CC and fell 10-2.  A single by Georgia Gallardo put Kish on the board in the top of the first. However, the Eagles captured the lead, 4-1, in the bottom of the second after a walk, scoring one run, and a triple scored three more runs. IVCC scored five additonal runs on five hits in the bottom of the third inning.  Kaelyn Williams took the loss for the Kougs as she went two and one-third innings, allowing nine runs on nine hits, striking out three and walking four. Gallardo and Sami Simms each drove in one run for Kishwaukee while Avery Boehne went 3-for-3 at the plate.  

An opening game loss meant the Kougars needed to move to the play-back bracket to play South Suburban College, who had lost earlier to host Bryant and Stratton.  The game would come down to the bottom of the seventh as Kish grabbed the victory in walk-off fashion, 12-11. The game was tied at 11 in the bottom of the seventh when Kaelyn Williams hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Tyra Smith for the game winner and a chance to play on Saturday for the regional. Kishwaukee collected 13 hits and South Suburban had 14 in the high-scoring affair.  The Kougars jumped out to the lead in the bottom of the first inning after Avery Boehne tripled, scoring two runs, then Madison Hallaron hit into a fielder's choice, scoring another run and Lillie Gebel singled to plate another run. Kishwaukee added to their early lead in the bottom of the second inning after Williams doubled to left field, Georgia Gallardo singled to center field, and Hallaron singled down the left field line, each scoring one run. The Kougs added to their early lead in the bottom of the third inning after Sami Simms hit a sacrifice fly in the bottome of the third to extend the Kish lead which was followed by a SSC error, and Gallardo hitting a sacrifice fly, each scoring one run. South Suburban wouldnt go down wihtout a fight as they scored nine runs on 10 hits to take the lead, 11-10 in the top of the fourth. After the Kougars tied the game at 11 in the bottom of the fifth the pitching and defense held SSC scoreless to set up the game winner in the bottom of the seventh as Simms led off with at double. then Williams drove in pinch runner Smith from third base.  Williams earned the win for Kish as the righty surrendered five hits and two runs over three and two-thirds innings, striking out six and walking two in relief. Boehne led things off in the circle surrendering nine hits and seven earned runs over three and one-third innings, striking out one and walking one.

Kishwaukee collected 13 hits in the game with Gebel, Paezleigh Hudgin, Williams, and Simms each collected two hits. Hallaron, Williams, Gallardo, and Boehne each drove in two runs for Kish.  The win keeps the Kougars hopes alive in the play back bracket where they await the loser of the Bryant and Stratton and Illinois Valley CC 2-0 record game and will play at 10 am Saturday. The winner of that game must beat the undefeated team twice to advance to the next round.