Softball Wins One at Home

Softball Wins One at Home-Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 3/19/24

*Photo Credits: Autumn Winston Burk*

CRC Softball hosted NCAA DIII Lyon College this afternoon for a doubleheader matchup. CRC split with Lyon back on Saturday, February 24th as CRC claimed the opening contest before dropping game two to the Scots. In today's contest, CRC would keep the same pattern by winning game one and falling to Lyon College in game two. 

Game One:

Crowley's Ridge: 8

Lyon College- 5

Paragould, Ark.- Senior ace pitcher Shelby Elrod claimed her fifth win of the season as the RHP went the distance for CRC windmilling all seven innings of the contest. Elrod and the Lady Pioneers led eight to two headin' into the seventh frame where Lyon College scrapped up three final runs before shortstop Maddie Reed retired the final Scot with a hurl over to first basemen Kourtni Jagneaux. Bailey Cupples caught the Pioneers back up with the Scots as her hot shot to the Scots' third basemen in the first inning scored CRC's first run. The bulk of CRC's runs came in the fourth where the Lady Pioneers created the space they needed to win the game with CRC scoring six of their eight runs as Dru Bryant and Maddie Reed brought in one run and Piper Farmer and Bailey Cupples knocked in two Pioneer runs each. Piper Farmer claimed the final run for Crowley's Ridge with a groundout in the sixth which scored Shelby Elrod. The Lady Pioneers scored eight runs on nine hits. Bailey Cupples, Maddie Reed, and Shelby Elrod all had two hits in the win. Piper Farmer and Cupples led the team in RBIs by driving in three each. Elrod allowed five runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out three over seven innings. 

Game Two:

Crowley's Ridge- 5

Lyon College- 7

Paragould, Ark.- In game two Pioneer fans witnessed four lead changes along with two ties in the seven-inning contest before a final lead change in the sixth inning from the Scots sealed the win for Lyon College. Hannah Burk brought in CRC's first run to tie the contest in the bottom of the third inning after standing tall in the box and punching a single down the left-field line. Lyon College reclaimed the lead as they countered with another run in the top of the fourth, but with Shelby Elrod's big two-RBI double in the bottom fame of the same inning, CRC once again stood on top. Extending their lead, the Pioneers added two more runs this inning with senior Maddie Reed driving in Hadlee DeFries with a sacrifice fly and Shelby Elrod scoring on a botched throw from the Scots' defense but mournfully after this inning, it would be the last time CRC got a run to the plate as the Scots held CRC scoreless for the remainder of the game. Lyon College held CRC runless over the next three innings while the visiting team tied the contest in the fifth inning by squeaking three runs across CRC's bullpen. Lyon then reclaimed the lead for the final time in the sixth off an RBI single and a wild pitch. With the Scots defense winning a long ten-pitch at-bat to kick off the bottom of the seventh, Lyon College soon claimed game two, forcing a split for the second time this season. The Lady Pioneers scored five runs on seven hits. Jocelyn Villarreal and Shelby Elrod led the Pioneers with two hits each. Elrod led in RBIs as she drove in two in the loss. Halea Wells got the no-decision for CRC as the junior went 4.0 innings, surrendering two runs (one earned) off five hits while walking two and striking out one. 

Up Next: CRC Softball will kick off their conference play with a doubleheader against Haskell scheduled for this Saturday, March 23rd at Pioneer Park. #GOPIONEERS