Comets sweep Crowley's Ridge

The Cottey College softball team squared off against Crowley's Ridge College for the first time in program history on Saturday.

Hopefully the Comets didn't beat up on the Pioneers so hard they don't get another invitation to play.

Cottey swept Crowley's Ridge 9-0 and 5-1 to improve to 20-6 on the season — highlighted by a return to form in the opener by sophomore ace Lacey Cruz.

Cruz, who lost her first game in the circle last week against Avila University, struck out nine Pioneers without allowing a walk in a dominating two-hit shutout effort.

The Comets did most of their offensive damage in the second inning, plating six of their nine runs — including back-to-back jacks by Alyssa Montoya and Lauren Johnson.

Johnson, Karina Ramirez, Aryana Palencia, Kristen Hurst, and Elizabeth Thomas all had two hits, with Ramirez, Palencia, and Hurst each adding a stolen base.

Cottey got creative in the nightcap, scoring one of its two runs in the third inning on a sacrifice fly...to the catcher.

After Ramirez opened the scoring with an RBI single, senior Lindsey Boord tagged up on third when a pop fly to Crowley Ridge's catcher also drew the attention of the pitcher and corner infielders — none of whom noticed Boord hustling home until she was crossing the plate.

The Comets added two more runs in the fourth thanks to some error-prone Pioneer defense and a squeeze bunt by Boord.

Crowley's Ridge scored their one and only run of the afternoon in the fifth, before Caitlyn Morgan belted a solo homer in the home half of the sixth.

Montoya threw all seven innings, striking out seven on five hits and a walk.

Cottey will travel to Columbia College on Friday.