Pioneers win marathon, sweep series

April 9, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

LINCOLN, Ill. – Crowley's Ridge College baseball scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning before a two-run passed ball ended game one in the 12th inning with Crowley's Ridge the victors over Lincoln Christian (Ill.) University 5-4. The Pioneers would then sweep the Red Lions with an 11-4 win in game two.

Game One (12 inn.)

Crowley's Ridge – 5

Lincoln Christian – 4

Crowley's Ridge College (9-19, 2-0 CAC) were shut out and held to two hits over the first six innings of game one before Zorey Chipman led off the last-chance half inning by being hit by a pitch. Matthew Parker would move Chipman into scoring position with a single before Chipper Lamb singled home Chipman for the first run of the game for the guys in green. A sacrifice bunt from Bobby Wright moved the tying run into scoring position for Phoenix Beal to single home Parker to draw the Pioneers ever closer. Lamb advanced 90 feet to plate the tying run on a passed ball.

Adonis Thomas (1-3) picked up his first collegiate victory in a stellar performance on the bump in relief. Thomas tossed six complete innings beginning in the bottom of the seventh, striking out seven Red Lions (0-17, 0-2 CAC) en route to the win. 

On the offensive side of things, the Pioneers pounded out six hits in extra innings, but could not manage to drive in a single run. The victorious runs came in the top of the 12th inning when Jackson Imler and John Grace, Jr. led off the inning with a pair of singles, both eventually scoring on a single passed ball

The Pioneers tallied 11 hits when the dust settled, with Lamb, Simms, and Wright all collecting a pair of hits.

Garett Wilson placed his name atop the Pioneer record books, recording his 20th career stolen base in the first inning, pinch-running after Beal's base on balls.

Game Two

Crowley's Ridge – 11

Lincoln Christian – 5

The Pioneers (10-19, 3-0 CAC) picked up their 10th victory of the season, cruising to an 11-5 victory in the finale of the three-game set. CRC plated at least one run in six of the seven innings.

After reaching via a fielder's choice, Kole Simms stole both second and third base, setting up Phoenix Beal to drive Simms home with a groundout. Riding high from his incredible pitching performance from game one, Adonis Thomas showed off his offensive prowess with a two-run double into center-field to put the Pioneers on top 3-0. The Red Lions (0-18, 0-3 CAC) answered with a run in the bottom of the first.

After Jackson Imler led off the top of the second with a single and a stolen base, Chipper Lamb would drive home Imler for the fourth Pioneer run. A single to third base from Simms brought home Lamb to push the CRC lead to 5-1 after the top of the second. 

Thomas and Lamb continued the merry-go-round in the top of the third inning, with Thomas leading off the inning with a double, scoring on Lamb's single.

A two-run error in the top of the Pioneer fourth extended the inning for Imler to drive in the third run of the fourth inning for Crowley's Ridge.

Zorey Chipman's double in the top of the fifth inning, scoring Bobby Wright, was followed by an RBI single off of the bat of Beal in the sixth.

JackHenry Glasgow (1-4) earned his first collegiate win, throwing six innings and striking out seven Red Lion batters.

Chipman was 3-for-5 in game two, with Wright tacking on a pair of hits. Thomas's pair of doubles drove in a pair of Pioneer runs.

Up Next

The Pioneers return to the Natural State for a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 12, against Central Baptist (Ark.) First pitch from North Little Rock's Burns Park is set for 12:00 p.m.