Pioneers wrap up season with sweep of Central Baptist

April 26, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

PARAGOULD, Ark. – Crowley's Ridge College ended their 2021-22 season on a high note, defeating in-state rival Central Baptist (Ark.) College in a Tuesday doubleheader. Trey Gossett's walk-off single in game one finished a 12-11 game before Chance Arender and Adonis Thomas shut down the Mustang bats in game two for a 5-2 victory.

GAME ONE

Central Baptist – 11

Crowley's Ridge – 12

The runs came in bunches in the first game of the day with 14 runs crossing in the first two innings alone en route to a combined 23-run output.

The Pioneers (17-24) fell into a hole in the first inning with Central Baptist (24-23) jumping all over CRC starter Kyle Russell for four runs. The Pioneers answered in turn with a four-run first of their own. With two outs, Trey Gossett and Kole Simms found themselves in scoring position thanks to walks and a wild pitch. Zorey Chipman beat out a tough throw from the Mustang shortstop to score Simms. Austin Gross followed suit by tagging a fastball into left field, scoring both Gossett and Chipman. After a wild pitch moved Gross to third base, Adonis Thomas posted a single to right, scoring Gross to tie the game 4-4 after one inning.

After CBC added one run in the top of the second, the big inning for the green and black was the five-run second. Two straight batters, Phoenix Beal and Gossett drew bases-loaded walks. Chipman would nearly clear the bases with a double into left to score Beal and Simms, while Gossett held up at third. Gossett did not stay at third long when Gross followed with an RBI single into left to put the Pioneers on top 9-5.

After a scoreless third inning, Central Baptist had a big top of the fourth inning by tallying five runs. Adding an insurance run in the top of the fifth, the Pioneers found themselves heading to the bottom of the seventh inning trailing 11-9.

Adonis Thomas led things off with a single past the first baseman with Tanner Davis following with a hot shot to second base for back-to-back singles. Chipper Lamb tried to move the runners ninety feet with a sacrifice bunt, but the small ball was so well-placed the junior legged out a single. Bobby Wright's sacrifice fly into left field pulled the Pioneers within one run. After a strikeout mowed the Pioneers down to their final out of the first game, Phoenix Beal singled to load the bases for Gossett. The sophomore Piggott native would send a two-out hit into shallow right field, and with the runners moving on first contact, both Imler and Lamb reached home to walk off the Mustangs in game one 12-11.

Andrew Brown (2-0) picked up the victory in relief, pitching 3 2/3 innings.

The Pioneers pounded out 14 hits in the hitting clinic, with Chipman, Gross, Lamb, and Thomas each tallying two hits. Chipman, Gossett, and Gross did the majority of run production with all three driving in three runs each.

GAME TWO

Central Baptist – 2

Crowley's Ridge – 5

Crowley's Ridge (18-24) fell behind early, with Central Baptist (24-24) plating two runs in the top of the first inning. 

The Pioneers posted their first run in the bottom of the third inning after Chipper Lamb led things off by being hit by a pitch before Bobby Wright drew a walk. Wright's free pass saw him reach base safely for the 22nd consecutive game. After Noah Overshine's sacrifice bunt moved Lamb and Wright into scoring position, Trey Gossett walked to load the bases. Zorey Chipman continued his hot day at the dish with a bloop to right-center field that found grass to score Lamb.

CRC kept the heat up in the home half of the fourth inning with Matthew Parker drawing a leadoff walk. With Garett Wilson legging out an infield single, it was Noah Overshine that drove in both the tying and go-ahead runs with a single up the middle. Gossett's single was followed by Chipman's RBI single up the middle. Austin Gross drove in the fourth run of the inning through the left side, with Chipman being thrown out at the plate trying to extend the Pioneer lead. 

Despite giving up two early runs, Chance Arender (1-1) settled down to pick up his first varsity win in the season finale. Adonis Thomas (2) stepped to the bump for the final inning and 1/3 to shut the door on the Mustangs.

Chipman and Overshine had the hot bats in game two, with both seniors ending their careers with a two-hit and two-RBI performance.