Lady Pioneers Snatch Up Midweek Wins Against Lady Royals

Lady Pioneers Snatch Up Midweek Wins Against Lady Royals-Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 2-27-24

*Photo Credits to Autumn Winston Burk*

Crowley's Ridge Softball left campus, making the haul across the state to take on Ecclesia College for a non-conference midweek matchup. The Lady Pioneers took care of business on the road by sweeping the Lady Royals improving their record back to .500 as they now sit 5-5 on the year. 

Game One: 

Crowley's Ridge- 7

Ecclesia College- 3

Springdale, Ark.-  Crowley's Ridge opened up the scoring in game one with the Lady Pioneers getting one run across as Kourtni Jagneaux hit a two-out hot shot up the gut in the top of the third inning. Jagneaux's single scored Maddie Reed who led off the inning with a single to right field. The Lady Pioneers would then seize complete control of the opening contest the following inning as CRC poured on 6 more runs off 3 hits. With the Royals struggling to find the strike zone, Hannah Burk took advantage of the three Ecclesia walks with a hard-hit single to centerfield scoring Dru Bryant along with Reed. Bailey Cupples followed Burk's at-bat with a long flyball to right field that proved too much for the Royal fielder as it hit the ground allowing Piper Farmer to reach home and extend the inning. Jagneaux claimed her second hit of the game as she drove in Burk and Cupples before finally having catcher Brooklyn Melson cap the profitable inning with a deep double to left field that scored the final run. Ecclesia College would scrape three runs in the bottom of the fourth cutting the CRC lead to four, but the Pioneers wouldn't panic, allowing ace pitcher Shelby Elrod to pitch with the lead and go the distance for the third time this season. The senior allowed just 2 hits over the 7 innings of action while giving up 3 runs (1earned), walking 3, and striking out 8 en route to her third win as CRC took the opening game 7-3. The Lady Pioneers scored 7 runs on 9 hits. Dru Bryant, Kourtni Jagneaux, and Hannah Burk had multiple hits in the game. Jagneaux led CRC with 3 RBIs with Burk ending with 2 RBIs. 

Game Two:

Crowley's Ridge- 9

Ecclesia College- 3

Springdale, Ark.- The Lady Pioneers kept the attack plan the same in game two as they once again struck first on the scoreboard. The Lady Pioneers scored 3 runs off 4 hits in the top of the first as Shelby Elrod led off the contest with a double, setting the stage for Bailey Cupples to drive her in two batters later for the first Pioneer run. Hannah Burk and Brooklyn Melson provided the other two-thirds of the scoring effort for the inning as they both singled to left center scoring Maddie Reed and Cupples. After this big first-inning offensive wave, Ecclesia College would hold the Pioneers scoreless until they rallied two more runs in the 5th with Cupples and Burk driving in their second runs of the contest. CRC then declared their dominance with four final runs in the 6th inning, taking a 9-0 lead over Ecclecia. Hadlee DeFries' pressure bunt, Elrod's groundout, and Burk's second single provided the Pioneers' final runs of the contest which proceeded to hold with the Pioneers defeating Eccelsia 9-3. Junior Halea Wells got her normal game-two start for the Pioneers and took the contest into the 6th inning before the Lufkin, TX native ran into some speed bumps giving up three Royal runs. Wells was bailed out by sophomore RHP Natalie Brightwell as Brightwell finished the contest allowing 3 hits, not surrendering any runs, and striking out two over her two innings of work. The starting pitcher Wells allowed 3 runs on 8 hits in her 5.0 innings of work as she claimed her second win of the season. CRC scored their 9 runs on 8 hits with the Kennett, MO natives leading the team with Cupples and Burk collecting two hits each. Burk added 3 RBIs with Cupples collecting 2 RBIs in the win. 

Up Next: CRC Softball's next contest scheduled for this Friday, March 1st against Talladega College will be moved due to weather to Monday, March 4th. The location will still be at Talladega College. #GOPIONEERS