Kansas Christian's Early Lead Dooms Pioneers

Kansas Christian's Early Lead Dooms Pioneers - Wil Teague, Sports Information Director

Crowley's Ridge -0

Kansas Christian- 1

CRC Baseball opened up its season yesterday afternoon in Little Rock, Arkansas dodging the weather that seemed to be passing through. Games were set for the 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm slots, but were altered with the inclement weather and the boys in green took the field at 12:00 pm noon. 

Little Rock, Ark- The Pioneers took to the field with their ace Corbett Seib toeing the rubber against a solid team from Kansas Christian College. Seib, the all-time wins leader at CRC looked to claim one more in the 2023 season opener. The senior would enter into trouble early giving up back-to-back singles, walking the next batter to load the bases, and then allowing one more single to right field that pushed one run across for KCC to start the game. Seib then rallied and took control of the game, forcing three flyouts to get out of the jam with as little damage done as possible. In the next half inning, the Pioneers were able to see Trey Drake draw a walk, but CRC couldn't muster a hit leaving him stranded on base. What no one knew is that the next 7 innings would prove to be a pitcher's dual in its purest form. KCC held the Pioneers to just two hits over 7 innings while Seib held the Falcons to 5 hits. Bottom of the third the Pioneers would show hope as Garett Wilson drew a walk to start the inning. Phoenix Beal would single two batters later but Wilson would be thrown out advancing to second. The Pioneers would enter the fourth still trailing 1. Seib continued to shove and give the Pioneers a chance to answer with a run of their own. The next chance CRC would see would come in the bottom of the 5th. The Pioneers loaded runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs, but again KCC found the ground ball in their glove to force the out at second ending the inning. Crowle's Ridge saw its last glimmer in the bottom of the second as Vancell Lucas singled on a hard ground ball to center field to start the inning but KCC would retire the next three batters shattering the glimmer, and take the win over the Pioneers 1-0. 

Game two vs Arkansas Baptist would be canceled due to weather conditions.

Leaders: Hitting 

Phoenix Beal and Vancell Lucas claimed one hit each for the Pioneers

Leaders: Pitching

Corbett Seib went the distance for the Pioneer tossing an impressive stat line 

7.0  IP, 5 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 8 SO

With an extra year of eligibility for the 2020 season being cut short due to COVID, Corbett Seib has passed alumnus Wil Teague for Most Career Innings Pitched at CRC with 178.2 inn. in his first start of the 2023 season. 

Up Next: 

Baseball wraps up its opening weekend in Little Rock, Ark. this afternoon at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.