NEOSHO, Mo. — The Crowder College softball team improved to 32-8 with an 11-2, 4-0 doubleheader sweep Thursday of St. Charles Community College at Crowder.
Crowder's Jasmine Myers drove in seven runs and reliever Jessica Smith was strong in the circle en route to an 11-2 run-rule win for the Roughriders in Game 1.
Game 1
Crowder jumped out to an early lead with a trio of runs in the bottom of the first. Miya Curry and Myers scored on a Callie Cooper line-drive single to right field and Alaura Padgett connected for a double to right field that plated Cooper.
St. Charles' Emily Parsons made it a 3-1 game with a single to right field that scored Ella Lause in the top of the second. The Cougars inched closer at 3-2, courtesy of a Caitlin Cusherbery double to center field that brought Kodie Van Eckye across the plate.
Crowder extended its lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the third when Cooper plated Brooke Beyer with a single to right field.
The Roughriders lead swelled to 8-2 in the bottom of the fourth off a Myers grand slam to right field that also scored Mia Sarwinski, Katie Simpson and Curry.
Myers struck again in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run double to center field that scored Sarwinski, Simpson and Curry and ended the game with the run-rule win.
Myers finished 2 for 3 with seven RBIs and two runs. Cooper was 3 for 3 with three RBIs and a run and Beyer was 2 for 3 with a run. Simpson and Curry both logged two stolen bases.
Crowder starter Aubree Saporito gave up two runs on three hits while striking out four and walking three in 2 1/3 innings. Reliever Jessica Smith gave up just one hit while striking out eight and walking one in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Game 2
Myers continued her RBI party when she drove in Curry with a single in the bottom of the first inning of Game 2. Crowder extended its lead to 2-0 when Evelyn Comstock was hit by a pitch with bases loaded and Beyer strolled home.
The Roughrider lead increased to 3-0 in the bottom of the third off a Comstock sacrifice that plated Beyer, and the lead grew to 4-0 off a Simpson solo homer to right field in the bottom of the fourth.
Smith stayed strong in the circle, finishing the complete game shutout with eight strikeouts and one walk. She gave up no runs on three hits.
Simpson finished 1 for 3 with a run and an RBI, and Beyer was 1 for 3 with two runs.
The Roughriders return to action Saturday when they host Poplar Bluff's Three Rivers Community College (19-9) for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
