Softball Drops Road Conference Doubleheader to Comets

Softball Drops Road Conference Doubleheader to Comets- Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 3/28/25

Photo Credit: Paige Glenn (CRC Marketing Major '25)

Pioneer Softball (10-12 & 2-4 AMC) fell twice in Nevada, MO, against American Midwest Conference opponent Cottey College (14-12 & 4-2 AMC).

Game 1

Crowley's Ridge- 7

Cottey College- 9

Nevada, MO- The Lady Comets outhit the Lady Pioneers eleven to ten, to best the Pioneers in the opening matchup by a difference of two runs. The Comets witnessed Crowley's Ridge claim a 4-0 lead after two innings of action before the hosting team rallied back with 5 unanswered runs to reclaim the lead, 5-4 in the third. The Pioneers responded by shoving their final three runs to the plate in the next frame with Hadlee DeFries scoring on a Comet bobble, Kylie Cox earning an RBI off a Comet walk, and Bailey Cupples scoring Karsen Overshine with a sacrifice fly to right. Leading 7-5, the Pioneer defense was able to hold off Cottey for one inning before the Lady Comets reclaimed the lead for the final time with a crippling 3-run homer in the 5th. CC would tack on one more run in the sixth to round out their scorecard. Olivia Lanham, Karsen Overshine, and Jada Diaz all had two hits in the game. Halea Wells earned the no-decision, surrendering 5 runs off 6 hits while striking out two in 3.0 innings. Aimee Buckley took the loss, with the reliever allowing 3 runs off 3 hits, walking 2 in 2.0 innings. 

Game 2

Crowley's Ridge- 8

Cottey College- 9

Nevada, MO- In the second go-round, the Comets again narrowly defeated the Pioneers, this time scrapping by with a one-run victory over CRC. Much like game one, each team traded blows on the scoreboard until the Pioneers created separation, taking a 6-3 lead in the fourth with the offense pushing three runs to the plate. Unfavorably, the Lady Comets responded in kind by mustering a six-run bottom frame to cancel out all Pioneer progress, forcing CRC to fight from behind for the remainder of the game. The Pioneers would rally two more runs, one in the sixth with Lilly Wessel connecting with her second long ball of the season and Hadlee DeFries bringing in Jordan Janak with a sac fly in the seventh, but the Comets would extinguish the Pioneers in the inning, leaving them one run shy of forcing extra innings. Game two's hit-track was identical to game one, with the Comets again outpacing the Pioneers, eleven hits to ten.  Bailey Cupples led the offense, going 3 for 4 with a double. Lilly Wessel followed, going 2 for 4 with a HR and 2 RBIs. Lastly, Kourtni Jagneaux went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs in the contest. Natalie Brightwell took the loss, allowing 9 runs (8 earned) off 11 hits while striking out 1. 

Up Next: The Lady Pioneers will stay on the road, hitting the diamond tomorrow, with an AMC matchup against William Woods University starting at 1:00 PM. #GOPIONEERS