CRC's Elrod Tosses Historical Perfect Game As CRC Softball Sweeps HSSU In Home Opener

CRC's Elrod Tosses Historical Perfect Game As CRC Softball Sweeps HSSU In Home Opener- Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 2-9-24

Game One: 

(5 Innings)

Crowley's Ridge- 11

Harris-Stowe- 0

Paragould, Ark. Today, February 9th, 2024 will forever be stained with history and chiseled deep into the CRC record books as a historical first-time event took place at Pioneer Park. In the season home opening matchup against Harris-Stowe State University, senior and Kentucky native Shelby Elrod took the circle in game one and proved perfect. Fans and watchers alike quickly gathered that they were witnessing something spectacular early on as the right-handed pitcher fell into her groove, striking out the first five Hornets of the contest. Elrod, seemingly couldn't be stopped as she dominated the entire contest, not giving up a hit or allowing a single baserunner. Elrod's epic performance saw her retire all 15 Hornet batters she faced including sitting down a career-best 11 Hornets personally with 11 strikeouts. In fact, the only two outs the senior didn't require help in were a foul pop-up caught by catcher Brooklyn Melson and a fly out to right fielder Kylie Cox as Elrod fielded two bunts back to the mound herself and tossed them over to first basemen Kourtni Jagneaux. With Elrod's dominant performance, the Lady Pioneers easily breezed by HSSU with a final score of 11-0.  The Lady Pioneers score those 11 runs on 10 hits. Maddie Reed, Hannah Burk, and Kourtni Jagneaux all were perfect in the contest going 2-2. Burk and Dru Bryant led the Pioneers with 3 RBIs each. Reed, Jagneaux, and Piper Farmer all recorded a double in the shutout win. 

Game Two: 

(5 Innings)

Crowley's Ridge- 13

Harris-Stowe- 3

Paragould, Ark. The Lady Pioneer's stone-wall pitching effort carried over into game two as the Hornets' side of the scoreboard remained skunked until a late effort got the Hornets on the board. Junior Halea Wells took to the circle, starting for the Pioneers, and held HSSU hitless until in the top of the third when a two-out single found the right side of the chalk down the left field line, breaking up the no-hitter. Still, it would take one more inning of action before the visiting team scrapped one run across. In the top of the fourth, the Hornets linked together some good luck and pushed one Hornet run across senior relief pitcher, Abby Ewing. Ewing didn't sweat it as the Cotter, Ark. native quickly recovered ending the inning, and finished out the rest of the contest from the inner circle with the Pioneers run-ruling the Hornets in 5 innings once more. CRC scored 13 runs on 11 hits with junior Ashton Drake leading the Pioneers from the batter's box as the third baseman went (3-3) with 3 RBIs and two doubles. Maddie Reed also ended with multiple hits as the senior shortstop went (2-2) with one double and 2 RBIs. Sophomore catcher, Lilly Wessel also added one double in the win. 

Up Next: CRC Softball will host Louisiana Christian University on Monday, February 12th in a doubleheader matchup starting at 12:00 PM. #GOPIONEERS