Lions Softball Completes Series Sweep of Shelton State

Hanceville, Alam — The Lions' softball team ran their winning streak to six games after fend off last inning rallies in both games to complete their four-game series sweep of the Bucs on Saturday. Wallace won game one 6-5 and then took game two 8-7.

Wallace State is now 31-8 overall and 13-3 in conference play. Shelton State falls to 16-16 and 8-8 in conference. 

GM 1: Wallace State 6, Shelton State 5

After two scoreless innings, Shelton scored two runs in the top of the third to grab the lead. The Bucs got a triple from Chloe Mitchell that drove home Natalie Liner and Layla Bradshaw for the 2-0 lead.

Wallace State cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Charli Kyser, who doubled earlier in the inning, scored on a Brooklyn Sertell single to center. 

The Bucs extended their lead back to two when Mitchell homered to right field in the top of the sixth.

Kaelyn Jones reached second on a two-base error to start the bottom of the sixth. Brandy Phillips then singled to center, plating Jones. Phillips then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball before Kyser drew a walk to give the Lions two runners. Sertell followed with a single, driving home Phillips to tie the game at 3-3. Wallace kept the scoring going when Blakelyn Austin doubled, bringing home Kyser. On the next pitch, Leah Graves doubled to right field, plating Sertell and Austin for a 6-3 lead.

Shelton State cut the lead to 6-5 with two steals of home by Chelsey Hogsed and Alana Spann. The Bucs loaded the bases but Madeline Howard induced a popup for the third out of the inning, ending the game.

Sertell finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead the Lions at the plate. Austin was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Graves added a double and two RBIs. Phillips had a hit and an RBI.

Phillips picked up her 8th win of the season after pitching 6.1 innings and allowing five runs on six hits, while striking out four. Howard earned her 2nd save after getting the final two outs of the game.

GM 2: Wallace State 8, Shelton State 7

The Bucs got off to a quick start, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning. Spann reached second on a two-base error and moved to third when Bradshaw singled to center. Mitchell grounded out to third bringing home Spann and then Bradshaw scored on a W. Lang ground out.

The Lions responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-2 lead. Tinayja Thomas singled to start the inning and then moved to second when Jones walked. Phillips had a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Thomas from third. With two outs in the inning, Sertell homered to center field plating Jones and herself.

Shelton State tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the third when Spann's groundout plated J. Hocutt from third.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the fourth when Wallace State plated five runs to take an 8-3 lead. Ashlyn Burns and Thomas had back-to-back triples to plate Burns and give the Lions the lead. Jones then singled to center, driving home Thomas. A Phillips' single to left brought home Jones and then Kyser homered to plate Phillips and herself for a five run lead.

The Bucs scored a run in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 8-4 when Hogsed scored on a groundout by Bradshaw.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Shelton State posed a serious threat when they loaded the bases. They pulled off a triple steal, cutting the lead to 8-5. Then Mitchell doubled to left field and plated Spann and Bradshaw to make the score 8-7.However, Howard got Lang to fly out for the final out of the game.

Sertell finished with two hits, including a homerun, two RBIs and a run scored to lead the Lions. Jones and Thomas each had two hits, two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base. Phillips and Kyser each had a hit, two RBIs and a run scored. Burns also had two hits and a run scored.

Smith earned her 12th win of the season after pitching 6.2 innings and allowing seven runs on seven hits. Howard picked up her third save in getting the final out of the game.

Upcoming

Wallace State will start a four-game series with Snead State when they travel to face the Lady Parsons on Thursday. Snead State is currently 21-24 overall and 11-9 in conference play. They are 4-6 in their last 10 games.

At the plate, the Lady Parsons are led by Brynlee Silletti who is fourth in the conference in RBIs with 41 and homeruns with 11. She also leads the team with a .406 batting average.

In the circle, Josie Bunch leads the way with a 2.83 ERA, while Victoria Mauturer leads the team in wins with six and strikeouts with 38.