Softballs Season Ends In Lawrenceville, GA

Softballs Season Ends In Lawrenceville, GA- Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 5-5-23

After a day one opening round upset victory over #2 seed Florida National University, the #3 seed Lady Pioneers faced a tough matchup in the winner's bracket earlier today against the hosting team and #1 seed Georgia Gwinnett College. The Grizzlies, who are 38-9 on the year, proved why they were the top seed in the tournament as they took an early lead and quickly ran away with the contest defeating CRC 14-0.

Crowley's Ridge- 0

Georgia Gwinnett- 14

Lawrenceville, GA- The Pioneers got a chance to put runs on the board first as they entered the matchup being the visiting team, but a quick three pop-ups sent the Lady Pioneers out to the field. Shebly Elrod took to the circle but unlike the opponent yesterday, the Grizzlies opened the contest with a leadoff double testing CRC's defense early. Brooklyn Melson took care of the leadoff runner as she showed off her cannon throwing out the advancing Grizzlie runner at third but it would only slow Georgia Gwinnett's attack as they still manage to take a 2-0 lead over CRC, via a 2-run blast to right field. This first inning started the snowball effect and foreshadowed the direction of the game as the #1 seed continued to score runs while CRC struggled to get runners on base. CRC ended the contest with just 2 hits with Elrod claiming one with a double to left field and Ashton Drake claiming the second hit with a pinch-hit single down the right-field line. With the 14-0 defeat to the Grizzlies, the Pioneers now faced elimination as they entered the loser's bracket. CRC was scheduled to play the winner of Florida National University and USC Beaufort later that afternoon at 4:00 pm.

Leaders: Hitting

Shelby Elrod and Ashton Drake claimed they only hits in the contest with one each.

Pitching: 

Elrod: 2.2 innings, 8 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO, 1 HR

Wells: 0.1 innings, 0 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR

Ewing: 1.0 innings, 2H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR

Game Two:

Crowley's Ridge- 1

USC Beaufort- 13

As CRC dropped its first game of the day against GGC the Lady Pioneers were placed to take on the winner of the loser's bracket matchup between #2-seed Florida National University and #4-seed USC Beaufort. As the game unraveled the underdog prevailed once more and the Pioneers stage was set as they faced #4 seed USCB in a do-or-die game. The Sand Sharks being 12-42 on the year brought the 7-1 win momentum over FNU with them in the contest against CRC as they ended CRC's post-season play with a 13-1 sound victory.

Lawrenceville, GA-  USCB scored 9 runs in the first inning against the Pioneers as Shelby Elrod forced two quick outs from the pitcher's circle but then couldn't retire the third. The CRC defense slipped up a couple of times allowing the inning to drag on until Abby Ewing relieved Elrod and gave the Pioneers the out they needed but not before the damage was done. The Lady Pioneers dug deep end gave a good effort trying to get things going from the batter's box as Elrod led off the bottom half of the first by drawing a walk and Dru Bryant singling to short but the Sand Sharks ended the inning and momentum-shift with a double play. In the second inning, Elrod re-entered the pitcher's circle and would settle in her groove only giving up 4 more runs over the next 4 innings but the Crowley's Ridge bats were nowhere to be found. The Lady Pioneers would leave the few runners they managed to get on base stranded there as CRC only collected two more hits in the game. Dru Bryant singled for the second time in the fourth inning and Bailey Cupples took credit for the last hit and responsibility for dismissing the USCB shutout by hitting her 5th homer of the season in the bottom of the 5th. The Lady Pioneers would fall the Sand Sharks 13-1 ending the 2023 season with an overall record of 19-16.  

Leaders: Hitting

Dru Bryant (2-2), Bailey Cupples (1-2)(RBI)(HR)

Pitching:

Elrod: 4.2 innings, 11 H, 13 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO

Ewing: 0.1 innings, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO