Pioneer softball splits early week matchup with Tigers

March 22, 2021

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - After a weekend full of softball, the Lady Pioneers played their fifth and sixth games over the last four days by defeating Stillman (Ala.) College 9-5 in the opener. The Tigers would answer with a 2-1 victory of their own in the second game.

GAME ONE

Crowley's Ridge - 9

Stillman - 5

CRC (9-8) would score runs in the first five innings which was enough to stave off a late comeback by Stillman college. With Kaitlyn Stebelton proving her role in the leadoff spot, the senior reached base with a single in the first at-bat of the Lady Pioneers for the fifth consecutive game. She would score the first run of the game when K.J. Jackson sacrificed a fly ball into right field allowing Stebelton to touch the plate. Baily Jones would help the Lady Pioneer cause by blasting a two-run double to give CRC a 3-0 lead to start the game.

The Stillman (7-16) pitching staff allowed leadoff hits in each of the first three innings. The Lady 'Neers saw April Kennedy lead off the inning with a hit, later to score CRC's fourth run. Rachel Russell would later single home Bre'Anna Warren to push CRC ahead 5-0.

With Stebelton and Warren both regularly recording triples, classmate Lacey Lambright wanted to join the party in the top of the third inning by ripping an RBI three-bagger down the right-field line to push the lead to 6-0. After drawing multiple walks in the top of the fourth, Hannah Powell drew a bases-loaded walk to earn an RBI as her squad went ahead 7-0.

A pair of Tiger errors in the fifth inning finished CRC's scoring by having two unearned runs cross the plate with the Lady Pioneers ahead 9-0.

Stillman College applied pressure late in the game, scoring three runs off of three hits in the home half of the fifth frame. Knowing what damage could be dealt in the late innings, after winning two of their last four games in walk-off fashion, the Lady Pioneers tightened the screws after giving up two runs in the seventh by encouraging a strikeout to end the game in favor of the green and white 9-5.

Bailey Jones, Rachel Russell, and Kaitlyn Stebelton led CRC's nine hits by collecting two hits, with Bailey Jones's double driving in a team-best two RBIs.

Sammi Henry picked up her fourth win of the season, with the only runs scored on her watch being unearned.

GAME TWO

Crowley's Ridge - 1

Stillman - 2

After scoring a total of 19 runs over the last two games alone, the Lady Pioneers' (9-9) bats cooled off with runners in scoring position in the second game of the day. The Lady 'Neers left nine runners stranded on the bases after collecting six hits. Kaitlyn Stebelton once more led off the Pioneer lineup with a single - the sixth consecutive game that was led off by a Stebelton single. Moving 60 feet after a walk, and 60 more after a groundout, Stebelton found herself on third base with one out. Rachel Russell would hit a sacrifice fly to center field that did exactly what it was meant to do, score the run as the Lady Pioneers opened the scoring with a 1-0 lead.

It seems every time Adrienne Stucker enters the circle, you will be set up with a pitcher's duel. Today's contest against Stillman (8-16) was no exception. After a bunt single and a stolen base, Candace Hampton was able to knot things up 1-1. After which, Stucker and her Tiger counterpart Brooklynn Pennington held their opposition batters scoreless over the next four innings of work.

The Lady Pioneers' lone error of the game proved to be the most costly, with a wild throw placing the go-ahead run on third base with just one out. A sacrifice fly later, Stillman took the lead 2-1. Crowley's Ridge would threaten in the top of the sixth inning by loading up the bases with two outs; however, Pennington was able to strike out the final batter of the inning. The Tigers would hold on to win the 2-1 game.

K.J. Jackson's bat led Crowley's Ridge in the box, earning two of CRC's six hits.

Stucker went the distance, allowing one earned run in the loss.

UP NEXT

The Lady Pioneers will spend the remainder of Crowley's Ridge College's spring break week away from competition, returning to the field on March 30th for a doubleheader against Blue Mountain (Miss.) College in the Magnolia State. First pitch is scheduled to be tossed at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.