Pioneers Split With Trojans

Pioneers Split With Trojans-Wil Teague, Sports Information Director 2-21-22

Game One:

Crowley's Ridge-10

Hannibal LaGrange- 12

The Pioneers came out swinging in the first matchup of the day against the Trojans and it would be needed as the Trojans took the Lady Pioneers into extra inning for the first time this season. The Lady Pioneers scores 10 runs while smashing 14 hits in the contest with the Trojans only collecting 12 hits, but bested the Pioneers by two runs by getting 12 trojans across the plate. The only inning either team would not score came in the 5th with the score remaining 8-3 with CRC up heading into the last 6 outs. Hannibal LaGrange outscored the Pioneers in the bottom of the 6th mustering 4 runs compared to the Pioneers' 1. With the score now 9-7 in favor of CRC, the Pioneers made a pitching change in the top of the 7th. Natalie Brightwell entered the circle to shut the door on the Trojans. Brightwell grabbed two quick outs, but HLU brought the two-out rally to life as they scored three, retaking the lead 10-9 and forcing the Pioneers to their last three outs. The Pioneers tied the game with Autumn Maxwell driving in the tying run as she grounded out to second, but the inning would end leaving the game-winning run on third. Elrod would reenter to looking to hold the Trojans still in the top of the 8th, but the momentum was not with the Pioneers. HLU pushed two more across forcing the Pioneers into a corner at the bottom of the 8th. CRC put the ball in play with all three batters, but there were Trojan defenders in the right place at the right time ending the game

Leaders: Pitching:

Elrod: 7 inn, 8 hits, 8 runs, 7 BB, 8 SO

Hitting:

Elrod (3-5), Farmer (3-3) 

Game Two:

Crowley's Ridge- 6

Hannibal LaGrange- 3

In game two Halea Wells took the mound and she would go the distance for the Pioneers. CRC matched the Trojans as each team racked up 7 hits, but this time the Pioneers were a little more efficient as they scored 6 runs compared to HLU's 3. With a quick outing from Wells, the Pioneers scored in the first with Brooklyn Melson grounding out to second but scoring Elrod in the process. Hannibal answered with one themselves the following top inning making things even until the 4th. The Pioneers scored 3 in the 4th with back-to-back hits from Bailey Cupples and Ashton Drake and outdid their performance in the 5th by getting three more across with big swings from Melson and Burk, and a watchful eye from Drake that put the Lady Pioneers up 6-3. Wells and the Pioneer Defense held strong keeping the Trojans scoreless for the remainder of the game. The Pioneers win it, 6-3.

Leaders: Pitching

Wells: 7.0 inn, 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 BB, 2 SO

Leaders Hitting:

Elrod (1-3) 3B, Melson (1-3) 2B, Cupples (1-3) 2B, Burk (2-3)