Lady Pioneers Win One In Talladega

Lady Pioneers Win One In Talladega- Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 3/4/24

*photo credit Autumn Winston Burk*

Pioneer Softball claimed the opening matchup against Talladega College by a shutout victory of 10-0 before falling in game two, 6-3. 

Game One:

Crowley's Ridge- 10

Talladega College- 0

Talladega, AL- The Lady Pioneers smashed out 11 hits, scoring 10 runs in the opening matchup against Talladega College. CRC took the lead over the hosting Tornadoes in the top of the first with Piper Farmer's sacrifice fly to right field and never looked back as they led for the entire game. The Pioneers scored two more in the second off Kylie Cox's single to right field and then added one more in the third with Hannah Burk scoring Maddie Reed with a final sacrifice fly. CRC sealed the victory in the opening contest via run rule with a profitable six-run inning in the fifth. Hannah Burk, Bailey Cupples, Kourtni Jagneaux, Brooklyn Melson, and Dru Bryant took credit for the big inning by driving in Pioneer runners as CRC scored the six runs off six hits. Shelby Elrod who tossed CRC Softball's first perfect game back on February, 9th took her second perfect game bid into the fifth where the senior saw the first Lady Tornadoe reach base as she surrendered her first and only hit of the contest. The Pioneer defense was flawless behind Elrod in her fourth win of the year as the team didn't commit a single error in the five innings. Bailey Cupples, Dru Bryant, and Kylie Cox all had two hits with Hannah Burk, Cox, and Bryant driving in two runs in the win.

Game Two: 

Crolwey's Ridge-3

Talladega College- 6

Talladega, AL- Halea Wells got her routine start in game two for the Pioneers, and much like Elrod, the RHP would only allow one hit against Talladega in her outing. Harshly, Wells' one hit she surrendered came in the bottom of the first where the Lady Tornadoes put two runners on with walks and then brought them around with a bases-clearing triple to take the lead. The Tornadoes would get one final run across the plate with a sacrifice fly before the Pioneers would exit the inning allowing Wells to settle down and fall into her groove. After the chaotic first inning, Wells remained hitless by retiring the side over the next two innings along with the Pioneer offense producing with Maddie Reed recording her second hit of the contest which scored Shelby Elrod.

Talladega College increased their lead against CRC in the fourth and fifth innings as the Pioneer defense bobbled their first two errors of the day and the Tornadoes bats chipped away at the Pioneer bullpen to rake in their final three runs of the contest. Bailey Cupples scored CRC's second run of the game in the sixth as the junior laced a line drive to right field but Talladega quickly ended the inning, extinguishing the Pioneer momentum. Trailing by four going into the seventh, Hadlee DeFries brought in CRC's final run of the game with her bunt out to the pitcher before Talladega finished off the Pioneers. Wells drops to 2-3 on the year as she claimed the loss. CRC scored 3 runs on 6 hits with Dru Bryant and Maddie Reed having two hits each in the game. 

Up Next: CRC Softball is set to host Rust on Thursday, March 7th for a doubleheader matchup starting at noon, weather permitting. #GOPIONEERS