Pioneers split Tuesday doubleheader with Eagles

March 1, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

PARAGOULD, Ark. – Crowley's Ridge College hosted Williams Baptist (Ark.) University for a Tuesday doubleheader. Both teams left Paragould with high-scoring wins. The Pioneers used a late push to claim game one 12-10 before the Eagles snatched game two 17-10.

Game One:

Williams Baptist – 10

Crowley's Ridge - 12

Williams Baptist (6-6, 0-0 AMC) got off to a hot start, jumping ahead with to lead 4-0 moving into the bottom of the third inning. Trey Gossett would put the Pioneers on the board by singling Matthew Parker home – the first of Parker's three runs in the game.

The Pioneers (4-5, 0-0 CAC) utilized a big fourth inning by capitalizing on an untimely error. With outs in the inning, Garett Wilson singled home Chipper Lamb before Bobby Wright's single plated Wilson. Then with the bases loaded, Gossett hit a pitch on the end of the bat to send a slow roller right into the glove of the pitcher. The throw to first base sailed into the right-field corner, allowing the Pioneers to round the bases and score three runs to cut the Eagle lead to 8-5 at the end of the fourth inning.

It was déjà vu for WBU in the bottom of the fifth inning, when Lamb laid down what would have been a sacrifice bunt. Instead, not only did Lamb reach first safely, the throw the first was off of the mark and allowed Noah Overshine (courtesy running for Phoenix Beal who reached on walk) to score. After two Pioneers were hit by pitches, the Eagles sent a new player to the bump. Crowley's Ridge would score five runs one-by-one starting with Lamb scoring on a wild pitch. Wright looped a single to third base to score Wilson. Gossett would draw a bases-loaded walk to allow Parker to cross home plate. Another wild pitch would see Wright score before Austin Gross grounded out and had Kole Simms score on the play. The Pioneers ended the inning ahead 12-5.

The Eagles made a comeback, scoring five runs in the top of the sixth inning, but Chipper Lamb (1) came in to shut the door in his first pitching appearance of the season to earn the save. Nick Garrett (1-0) picked up the victory in relief of starter Jackson Imler.

Wright was the only Pioneer with two hits in the game, also driving in two.

Game Two

Williams Baptist – 17

Crowley's Ridge – 10

Another high-scoring affair saw the visiting Eagles (7-6, 0-0 AMC) jump out to an 11-1 lead on starter Adonis Thomas (0-2) moving into the bottom of the third inning.

Kole Simms tried to spark the Crowley's Ridge (4-6, 0-0 CAC) offense by launching a homer over the left-field wall. The Pioneers answered that call in the next inning when Austin Gross laced a two-run double into left field followed by Chipper Lamb's two-run single to see the Pioneers down 11-6.

The Eagles would put the game out of reach in the top of the fifth inning by scoring five runs, but some lesser-known Pioneers made their names heard in the late innings. Andrew Brown had a pair of hits including a two-run single and a leadoff double. John Grace, Jr. drew a bases-loaded walk. As the sun set on Pioneer Park, the guys in green fell 17-10.

Gross, Lamb, and Brown each collected two hits, while Lamb drove in a team-high four runs.

Up Next

Crowley's Ridge will look to host a four-game weekend series with Randall (Okla.) University on Friday, March 3, and Saturday, March 4. Both days feature doubleheaders getting underway at 12:00 p.m.