Lady Pirates struggle in Monday games at powerhouse Crowder

The Lady ‘Riders of Crowder College put double-digit runs on the board in both ends of Monday afternoon’s Region XVI doubleheader in Neosho, blitzing the visiting North Central Missouri College Lady Pirates by scores of 12-4 and 13-1.

The triumphs improve Crowder’s season record to an eye-popping 46-6, including a four-game season sweep of the regular season match-ups against NCMC (Crowder won a pair of games earlier this month against NCMC in Trenton).  

In the first game, NCMC started well with a run in the top of the 1st inning giving the Lady Pirates a 1-0 road lead.  However, Crowder stormed out of the gates against starting pitcher Allison Hilsabeck with five 1st inning runs.  Hilsabeck, who took the loss to fall to 15-6, was removed after retiring just one batter, and gave up five runs and five hits in the inning.

Crowder continued to push the lead with a run in the second, then added five more runs in the 3rd off North Central reliever Jessica Stupar.  Breann O’Riley pitched the final 2/3rd’s of an inning for NCMC.  Sophomore shortstop McKinley Hurley continued to have an-All Region type spring in the lead-off hole, going 2 for 3 with a run scored, a stolen base, and an RBI for the visiting Lady Pirates.  Bethany Jacobsen, hitting behind Hurley, was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while Jaclyn Weydert had 2 RBI’s and a home run for North Central.  Aubrey Nelson and Amber Austin both contributed doubles.  The Lady Pirates, despite being down by a large margin, scored two runs in the 3rd and added a 4th inning run.

The nightcap was more lopsided in favor of Crowder College, with another five spot going on the scoreboard in the 1st inning for the Lady ‘Riders, this time off North Central sophomore starter Kelly Warford.  A run in the 3rd inning, and a 7-spot in the 4th inning, put the game away for the home team.  The Lady Pirates scraped across a single 4th inning run, as McKinley Hurley tripled, and was driven in on a sacrifice fly by Bethany Jacobsen. Warford took the loss for NCMC, dropping to a record of 4-3.

Wednesday’s scheduled softball games for NCMC, hosting Indian Hills Community College, have been cancelled.  The games will not be rescheduled.