CRC defeats WBU twice in Monday matchup

April 12, 2021

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

PARAGOULD, Ark. - Since joining the NAIA in 2016 Crowley's Ridge softball had never defeated their geographically closest opponent in Williams Baptist (Ark.) University which sits 20 miles from the CRC campus. That changed Monday as the Lady Pioneers took both games against the Lady Eagles in walk-off fashion, winning game one 2-1, followed by a 3-2 victory.

GAME ONE

Williams Baptist - 1

Crowley's Ridge - 2

While starting in the circle for Crowley's Ridge (12-14), Sammi Henry (SR/Marmaduke, Ark.) did her most damage at the plate, driving in both Lady Pioneer runs. Clocking in at just under 90 minutes, the opening game saw Henry and Williams Baptist's (15-18) Tess Temple duel it out over four innings.

Bre'Anna Warren (SR/Forrest City, Ark.) cracked open the scoring for CRC in the bottom of the fifth inning. when her one-out double was followed by Henry's RBI single to take a 1-0 lead.

Maggie Crossno answered for the Lady Eagles, taking the first pitch she saw in the top of the seventh inning over the center-field wall to notch the game at 1-1. In relief, Hannah Powell (SR/Piggott, Ark.) composed herself and retired the next three batters she saw in short order.

The Lady 'Neers used their speed in the bottom of the seventh inning when Kaitlyn Stebelton (SR/Crosby, Texas)'s one-out single saw her standing on second base after Warren's groundout. Down the final out of the inning, Henry sent a screamer past the diving glove of the Lady Eagle shortstop to plate Stebelton for the victory.

Henry was a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate, driving in both CRC runs. Warren followed with a pair of hits of her own.

Hannah Powell (1-1) picked up the win, tossing a one-hit two innings.

GAME TWO

Williams Baptist - 2

Crowley's Ridge - 3

Lady Pioneer (14-15) catcher Bailey Jones (FR/Fairfield, Texas) led off her second game by having a high-and-tight fastball hit her to reach base with one out. Madison Pikey (SR/Doniphan, Mo.) and April Kennedy (JR/Marmaduke, Ark.) followed with a set of walks. With two outs, Kaitlyn Stebelton beat out the throw to first to score Jones which gave CRC a 1-0 lead after two innings.

Williams Baptist (15-19) and Crowley's Ridge had eerily similar third innings. Both teams loaded the bases with zero outs, and both teams had their starting pitchers - Adrienne Stucker (SO/Poplar Bluff, Mo.) for CRC and Angel Gillette for WBU - work out of the jam without giving up a run.

Scoring runs in the top of the fourth and sixth innings, Williams Baptist took their first lead of the afternoon. That lead proved short-lived as a single, sacrifice bunt, and a wild pitch put Stebelton 60 feet away from tying the game with two outs. Sammi Henry drove Stebelton home with a line drive over third base to knot the game 2-2 after six full innings.

The scoring began and ended in similar manners, with Jones reaching after being hit by a pitch. Madison Pikey's bunted single put Jones in scoring position with one out. Lacey Lambright (JR/Harrisburg, Ark.) would take a pitch off of her elbow to move the winning run ever closer with the bases loaded. April Kennedy ended things by driving home Jones with a single past the glove of the diving Alyssa Cordell at second base for the 3-2 victory.

Henry continued to see the ball well, gathering three hits in the win. Stebelton and Warren followed behind with two hits each.

Madyson McDermott (SR/Charleston, Mo.) (3-1) earned the victory, throwing one scoreless inning.

UP NEXT

The Lady Pioneers will not have to wait long to hit the diamond again, as Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) University will arrive in Paragould for a date tomorrow, April 13, for a doubleheader beginning at noon.