Lady Pioneers Drop Season Opening Series

February 5, 2021
By Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

BETHANY, Okla. – Crowley's Ridge College pushed the Southwestern Christian (Okla.) Eagles to the limit in game one, but ultimately fell to a two-run two-out game-winning single 6-5. The Lady Pioneers could not shake the emotional loss, committing six errors in an 8-3 game two loss.

GAME ONE

After a leadoff groundout, the Lady Pioneers (0-1) started their season by seeing Bre'Anna Warren double down the left-field line. Able to advance to third, a pair of groundouts kept Crowley's Ridge off the board and out of scoring position for the next five innings.

The Eagles (1-0) were able to plate two on an RBI single in the bottom of the third followed by an RBI double in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead to the fifth inning.

Freshman Bailey Jones then roped a leadoff triple into right field, which was followed by Hannah Powell driving in Madyson McDermott courtesy running for her catcher. Kaitlyn Stebelton showed off her wheels by stealing both second and third, setting Sammi Henry up to close the Eagle lead to one run.

That one-run lead was erased in the following inning after Powell drove in her second run of the afternoon, scoring April Kennedy.

After a scoreless seventh inning, Crowley's Ridge appeared to have the game in hand with Kennedy driving in the potential go-ahead run, then turning around to score an insurance run on the heels of Powell's third single.

Southwestern Christian; on the other hand, had other plans for their season opener. The international tiebreaker runner quickly advanced to score to draw the Eagles within one run. After coaxing a strikeout, Powell needed one out to close out the game in relief of senior starter Henry. With two runners in scoring position, SCU's Britney Czelusniak laced a frozen rope into center field to walk it off in eight innings, defeating CRC 6-5.

The Lady Pioneers stranded nine baserunners over the course of the contest.

Powell led the Lady 'Neers offensively driving in three RBIs on three hits. Henry and Kennedy also teamed up to drive in one run each.

GAME TWO

Reeling from the loss of the season opener, the Lady Pioneers (0-2) again waited until the fifth inning to score their first runs.

Similar to game one, the Eagles (2-0) were spotted three quick runs in the second inning on three hits. The visible difference in the game came in the form of Crowley's Ridge committing three of their six errors in the inning, with the runs coming as a result of all three.

Madison Pikey drove in Heather Conaway to open the scoring for CRC, with Bailey Jones able to score after an Eagle error to close the scoring gap 5-2 in favor of the hosts.

After seeing the Lady Eagles score three more runs, Kylie Cox came in to pinch-hit in the top of the seventh to try and spark a Lady Pioneer rally. She nearly did so by doubling to deep right field; however, was thrown out trying to reach third before SWC wrapped up the game with an 8-2 win.

Kaitlyn Stebelton was the only Lady Pioneer with multiple hits, earning two in her four trips to the plate. Pikey and Warren both had one RBI off of one hit each.

UP NEXT

Crowley's Ridge will stay in the Oklahoma City metro area to meet up with Southwestern Christian's Sooner Athletic Conference rival Mid-America Christian (Okla.) University. The Evangels will host the Lady Pioneers Saturday, February 5 for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.