Big innings preclude Lady Pioneer comebacks

April 2, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

SPRINGDALE, Ark. – A big first inning from the hosting Ecclesia (Ark.) College Lady Royals in game one bookended with a big inning late inning in game two to see Crowley's Ridge drop the series on Saturday. Game one saw the hosts take home a 12-4 victory in five innings before Crowley's Ridge fell 14-9 in game two.

Game One (5 inn.)

Crowley's Ridge – 4

Ecclesia – 12 

Crowley's Ridge (8-21, 0-2 CAC) fell behind by seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Lady Pioneers threw three bases-loaded walks in the inning coupled with four RBI singles.

Trying to shake off the large Ecclesia (4-21) lead, Layne Tedder (2) laced a hit into deep center-field that found enough ground for the junior to touch all four bases for an inside-the-park home run. After being hit by a pitch, Kourtni Jagneaux scored the second Lady 'Neer run thanks to Lacey Lambright-Southern's single.

Tedder continued to try to spark the offense, singling to third base before swiping third after a groundout. Bailey Jones's groundout allowed Tedder to score her second run of the day. The last of the CRC scoring came in the top of the fifth inning after Brooklyn Melson's double set up Rachel Russell to single Melson home.

Maddie Reed (0-4) was selected for her first start but bowed out after 2/3 innings.

Russell and Tedder both had a pair of hits for the Lady Pioneers.

Game Two

Crowley's Ridge – 4

Ecclesia – 9

Down 9-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the hosting Ecclesia Royals (5-21) belted three home runs en route to a 10-run inning to take the victory.

In her first career start for Crowley's Ridge (5-21, 0-2 CAC), freshman Jocelyn Villareal (1) made a splash in the top of the second by sending a pitch over the left-field wall for her first home run in green and black. The Lady 'Neers would strike again in the top of the third when Heather Conaway (running for Lacey Lambright-Southern's single) scored on April Kennedy's double that was ripped up the middle.

After recording a home run the painful way, Layne Tedder (3) took the more traditional route in the top of the fourth inning, sending the offering over the left-field fence. Brooklyn Melson (also getting her first career start) would score the second run of the inning thanks to Shelby Elrod's single.

CRC would add two runs in the top of the fifth when Bailey Jones hit a sacrifice fly that was deep enough to score two runners. Villereal's double turned into a run off of Lambright-Southern's single.

After the big 10-run inning from Ecclesia, CRC tried to mount a comeback after Maddie Reed scored thanks to Melson's single before Melson herself tapped home after Elrod's double. 

Kennedy went 3-for-4 in the second game including an RBI double. Lambright-Southern joined her with three hits. Elrod, Melson, Tedder, and Villareal each tallied two hits.

Elrod (5-10) tossed 5 2/3 innings in the start, striking out three.

Up Next

Crowley's Ridge ventures north for a trip to Hannibal, Missouri, where they will face the Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) University Trojans on Tuesday, April 5, for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.