The top seeded Crowder softball team opened with a shutout victory against North Central Missouri College Friday in the Region XVI Tournament at Columbia Rock Bridge High School.

Crowder pulled out a 4-0 win in the semifinal game after weathering a four-hour rain delay to advance to the second round of the tournament.

Crowder (49-7) scored a run in the first inning and then tacked on three more in the third inning to secure the win.

Leadoff hitter Cassie Martin doubled and then stole second base to open the first inning. Cassie Kissler then grounded out, but drove Martin home.
In the third inning, Hollee Statum singled and moved to third base on Martin’s single. A wild pitch allowed Statum to score, making it 2-0.

Neosho High product Jessica Marble then delivered an RBI triple to score Martin, making it 3-0. An error on the first baseman later in the inning allowed Marble to score.

Alex Peters started and threw a one-hit shutout for Crowder. The right-hander struck out 10 and gave up only one hit, a double in the fourth inning to Erica Carr.

Crowder had nine hits in the game, including a 3-for-3 effort from Martin. Marble was 2-for-3.

On Saturday, Crowder picked up its second win in the tournament, defeating No. 2 seed Jefferson County College, 6-1.

The win advances Crowder to the championship game of the tournament today at noon against Jefferson.  The Lady Vikings (35-14) fought back in the loser’s bracket to get to a rematch against Crowder.

Crowder scored two runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to account for the offense in the victory Saturday.

Statum hit a home run in the second to open the scoring. Martin singled and after two stolen bases, scored on Kissler’s ground out.

Richelle VanGennip walked in the fourth inning and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt.

Katie Rackliff then hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning to give Crowder a 4-0 lead.
Consecutive RBI singles by Olivia Baldwin and Burkhart made it 6-0 in the fifth inning. Baldwin’s single scored Rachelle Rhodes, who was hit by a pitch. Burkhart’s brought home VanGennip, who walked.

The Lady Vikings’ lone run came in the seventh inning when Tori Long hit a solo home run.

Peters threw all seven innings to get the victory for Crowder. She gave up three hits, one run and struck out 11.

The Adair, Okla., native is now 31-2 on the season.

Crowder improves to 50-7 with the victory. The Lady Roughriders will have to be beaten twice for them not to win the Region XVI championship for the second straight year.