Eagles Snatch Two From CRC Softball

Eagles Snatch Two From CRC Softball- Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 2-15-24

With the contests scheduled against Lousisna Christian University being canceled due to weather this past Monday, the Lady Pioneers were finally able to hit the diamond this afternoon with a doubleheader against Williams Baptist University. 

Game One:

(6 innings)

Crowley's Ridge- 0

Williams Baptist- 8 

Walnut Ridge, Ark.- In game one the Pioneers would be unable to produce a run with their 4-hit effort, leaving 5 Pioneer runners stranded on base over the six-inning game.  CRC had to lead taken from them in the bottom of the first inning when senior ace Shelby Elrod left a ball just a little too much over the plate allowing the Eagles to capitalize as they claimed the lead 1-0 with a two-out solo homer to centerfield. The Eagles' second run came in the bottom of the 3rd after a Pioneer error extended the Eagles' life, allowing them to double to center field to bring in their second run. The Pioneers' doom came in the next inning when a string of Eagle hits combined with another Pioneer slip-up allowed 5 more Eagles to score. Now leading seven to zero, WBU finished off CRC with one more run in the 6th, run-ruling the Pioneers. Kourtni Jagneaux led the Pioneers from the box producing half the team's hits as the senior went (2-2). Juniors Bailey Cupples and Kylie Cox each added one hit in the contest. Elrod took the loss from the mound tossing 3.2 innings of work, allowing 7 hits, and 7 runs (2 earned), while striking out 2 and walking none. Sophomore Natalie Brightwell relieved Elrod tossing 1.1 innings allowing 1 run on 1 hit, walking 1, and striking out 1. 

Game Two:

(5 Innings)

Crowley's Ridge: 1

Williams Baptist- 9

Walnut Ridge, Ark.- In game two, the Pioneers would produce the same stat line from the box with a second performance of 4 hits but this time CRC managed to push one run past the Eagles. In the top of the third inning, junior Brooklyn Melson singled to left field reaching base safely allowing freshman Hadlee DeFries to move Melson up into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Maddie Reed would bring home the only Pioneer run of the day as she put the pressure on the Eagle defense with a hard grounder to the second baseman, allowing Melson to score and Reed herself to reach first. Unluckily for Pioneer fans, WBU reclaimed the lead the following half inning 2-1 and then repeated their game-one fourth-inning stretch by pouring onto their lead with six more runs. With CRC unable to find a solution, WBU claimed the match with a final blow in the 5th, ending the contest with a second consecutive run-rule victory. Senior Dru Bryant and junior Brooklyn Melson claimed the hits for the team as both players went (2-2) from the box. Junior Halea Wells took the loss for CRC throwing 3.1 innings allowing  5 runs on 9 hits while striking out 1. Senior Abby Ewing relieved Wells throwing 1.0 inning, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits and walking 1 in the late-week loss. 

Up Next: CRC Softball travels to Batesville, Ark. to take on NCAA DIII Lyon College in a doubleheader matchup on Saturday, February 24th starting at 12:00 PM. #GOPIONEERS