Lady Pioneers' skid continues with doubleheader losses to Lane

March 21, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Crowley's Ridge College Lady Pioneers will continue their hunt for their fifth win after losing twice in Tennessee to the Lane (Tenn.) College Dragons twice on Monday. Game one saw a late comeback by the Lady Pioneers, who ultimately fell 7-5. The second game was less kind to the girls in green who were bested by the Dragons in five innings 12-4.

Game One

Crowley's Ridge – 5

Lane – 7

Crowley's Ridge (4-13, 0-0 CAC) were down early when the hosting Dragons put up a four-run bottom of the first inning. From there, Shelby Elrod (2-7) settled down, allowing no runs in the next inning.

Lane (11-8, 1-7 SIAC) pitching kept the Lady 'Neers at bay, striking out six batters.

CRC made matters less comfortable in the top of the sixth inning when Lacey Lambright-Southern connected for her second hit of the day. Her pinch runner, McKenzie Crofford, would come around to score thanks to Dru Bryant's RBI double. The hits continued when April Kennedy's single was followed by a double-steal that saw Bryant cross the plate. Rachel Russell would then double home Kennedy to end the scoring on a three-run four-hit inning.

With a little magic left in the bats, Maddie Reed singled up the middle in the top of the seventh, scoring in the next at-bat for Bailey Jones. Jones's single to center was deep enough to see the speedy Reed touch all the bases to score the fourth Lady Pioneer run. With Heather Conaway running for Jones, Elrod's two-out single provided a lane for Conaway to score a run. The Lane defense clamped down to record the final out in the 7-5 win.

Lambright-Southern was the bright spot in game one, going a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate, with Bryant adding a pair of hits of her own. 

Game Two

Crowley's Ridge – 4

Lane – 12

Keen to end the day early, Lane (12-8, 1-7 SIAC) scored runs in each inning, including a four-run fourth before a three-run fifth ended the game.

Crowley's Ridge (4-14, 0-0 CAC) jumped ahead early when Shelby Elrod extended her leadoff single with her team-leading sixth stolen base. With a fielding error from Lane allowing Dru Bryant to reach base, it was April Kennedy's sacrifice bunt that had Elrod round to touch home. Rachel Russell followed with a groundout to second base, seeing Bryant score.

Extending their lead in the top of the second, Kylie Cox scored after a pair of singles and a wild pitch set her up to score on Bailey Jones's groundout. 

Bryant would later draw a one-out walk in the top of the third inning, scoring thanks to Layne Tedder's screamer up the middle of the diamond.

From there it was all Dragons, who zeroed in on CRC starter Halea Wells (2-5) for 13 hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. A tough day in the field, the Lady 'Neers committed three errors which led to one unearned run.

Elrod, Kennedy, Tedder, Cox, and Reed all tallied a lone hit for the Lady Pioneers in game two.

Up Next

One more stop on the month-long road trip will see Crowley's Ridge visit Batesville, Arkansas, for a double-header against Lyon (Ark.) College on Wednesday, March 23 beginning at 2:30 p.m.

The Lady Pioneers will be crossing their fingers for fair weather to allow them to return to Pioneer Park in time for the Pioneer Classic to be held on Friday and Saturday. A three-team tournament will see Crowley's Ridge take on Southwestern Christian (Okla.) University and Ecclesia (Ark.) College visit Paragould.