Softball Picks Up Pair Of Conference Wins In Kansas

Softball Picks Up Pair Of Conference Wins In Kansas-Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 4/19/24

*Photo Credits: Autumn Winston Burk*

CRC Softball matched their previous season's win total by defeating Haskell Indian Nations University in both contests today,  improving to 19-15 overall on the year and 5-1 in conference play. 

Game One: 

Crowley's Ridge- 11

Haskell University- 3

Lawrence, KS-  The Lady Pioneers dominated the Lady Indians in game one by pushing eleven runs across the plate off thirteen hits, ending the contest after five innings via run rule. CRC's bats immediately produced runs in the opening contest as Piper Farmer doubled to score one in the top of the first. CRC would add nine more runs to their cause before Haskell would produce an answer as the Lady Pioneers tacked on five runs in the second thanks to two Pioneer doubles; (one from Kylie Cox and one from Dru Bryant), one sacrifice fly from Piper Farmer, and one Lady Indian mishap that CRC took advantage of. CRC added the other four runs the following inning off RBI singles from Maddie Reed and Piper Farmer. To top-off the runs for CRC, Farmer collected her fourth RBI of the game with her third hit of the contest in the top of the fifth capping her monstrous performance from the box. Shelby Elrod picked up her eleventh win of the season, her new career best, by allowing three runs (one earned) off four hits and striking out three over 5.0 innings.  Farmer led the offense going (3-4) with 4 RBIs; Elrod also had three hits going (3-4). Maddie Reed and Dru Bryant collected two hits each in the win.

Game Two:

Crowley's Ridge- 7

Haskell University- 5

Lawrence, KS- Pioneer Softball completed the season sweep over Haskell after extinguishing a last-inning rally from the Lady Indians in game two.  CRC scored seven runs off eleven hits, pushing runs across in the second, third, fifth, and sixth innings. Opposite from game one, CRC trailed Haskell after the opening inning with the host team scoring one run in the bottom frame of the first but after a sacrifice fly from catcher Brooklyn Melson and a bigtime double from Ashton Drake in the top of the second, CRC was back on top for good. CRC increased the score gap to five with Maddie Reed, Bailey Cupples, and Hannah Burk all helping extend CRC's lead with RBI singles in the third, and Melson acquiring her second RBI of the game with a single in the fifth. Frighteningly, the Lady Indians scrapped up two runs in the bottom frame of the fifth before CRC added their final run to the scoreboard with Maddie Reed collecting her second hit and second RBI of the game with a single in the sixth. Haskell challenged CRC as they brought in two more runs, cutting CRC's lead to two before CRC went to the bullpen allowing Natalie Brightwell to relieve starting pitcher Halea Wells, stomping out the Haskell rally and earning her fourth save. Wells earned her seventh win going 6.0 innings, allowing ten hits and surrendering five runs (one earned) while striking out one.  Hannah Burk led the offense going (3-4) with an RBI; Dru Bryant and Maddie Reed ended the consecutive contest with multiple hits as Bryant went (2-3) and Reed went (2-4) with two RBIs. Brooklyn Melson added (1-3) with two RBIs for CRC in the win.  

Up Next: CRC Softball will host Rust College in a final home game at Pioneer Park for the 2024 season. The doubleheader is set to start at 2:00 PM.  #GOPIONEERS