Pioneer Softball Sweeps Rust Bearcats in Final Home Doubleheader

Pioneer Softball Sweeps Rust Bearcats in Final Home Doubleheader- Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 4/23/24

*Photo Credit: Autumn Winston Burk*

CRC Softball hosted Rust College in their final contests at Pioneer Park for the 2024 season. CRC emerged victorious in both contests today, improving to 21-15 on the year and 6-1 in conference.  

Game One: 

Crowley's Ridge- 4

Rust College- 0

Paragould, Ark.- In the opening game of the CRC's final home doubleheader, fans would witness just three base knocks be recorded between both teams with CRC edging past the Lady Bearcats with two of the three. CRC cracked the scoreboard egg in the bottom of the fourth where the Lady Pioneers posted three runs off free bases with CRC drawing three walks and then capitalizing off a botched throw by the Lady Bearcats. Junior Brooklyn Melson took the honor of breaking up the no-hit bid by Rust College as the Falkville, Alabama native single up the middle in the bottom of the sixth moments before senior Dru Bryant produced CRC's second and final hit of the game as the centerfielder scored courtesy runner Bailee Duhme with her RBI base-clearing triple two batters later. Shelby Elrod was lights out for the Lady Pioneers in her final home start, earning her career-best twelfth win as the senior went the distance for CRC by throwing fifty-eight strikes out of sixty-two pitches over the 7.0 innings. Elrod was so dominant this afternoon, that the RHP threw back-to-back immaculate innings by striking out the side in the second and third innings. The Kentucky native surrendered one hit and collected ten punchouts in the win tying her with CRC alumna Sammi Henry (Chipman) for most wins in a season.  

Game Two:( 6-Innings)

Crolwey's Ridge- 12

Rust College- 4

Paragould, Ark.- The second contest mimicked game one's pace until a big eight-run third inning from the Lady Pioneers ignited the burners, allowing CRC to jump ahead of Rust College and claim the sweep. Heading into the bottom frame of the third, CRC trailed Rust 4-1 with the Pioneers' lone run scoring off senior Maddie Reed's push bunt in the first, but soon enough CRC's offense roared to life, manufacturing eight runs off seven hits, giving CRC a commanding lead to coast to a game two win. In the big inning, CRC smacked out three extra-base hits which helped score five of their eight runs with seniors Maddie Reed and Hannah Burk hitting two RBI doubles, and fellow senior Kourtni Jagneaux taking credit for the last extra-base hit with an RBI triple. CRC ended the contest in the sixth inning with Ashton Drake's sacrifice fly-out to centerfield causing enough chaos to coax a throwing error from the Lady Bearcats, on which Jocelyn Villarreal didn't hesitate to snatch home, ending the game via run rule. CRC's offense ended with twelve runs off twelve hits with four Lady Pioneers recording two hits in the win; Shelby Elrod, Maddie Reed, Kourtni Jagneaux, and Ashton Drake. Reed led the quartet going (2-3) with three RBIs; Kourtni Jagneaux went (2-4) with two triples and one RBI; Hannah Burk also added two RBIs with her (1-4) effort. Halea Wells got the no-decision going 3.0 innings surrendering four runs off six hits while striking out one. Natalie Brightwell collected the win as the reliever finished the contest surrendering one hit over 3.0 while walking one and striking out four. 

Up Next: CRC Softball will travel to Springfield, MO this weekend to take on Mission University and Stephens College in their final four games of the regular season. #GOPIONEERS