Lions split doubleheader with #20 Vol State

Gallatin, Tenn. — The Wallace State Lions softball team, ranked #7 in the latest NJCAA rankings, split a doubleheader with #20 Volunteer State. The Lions won a shootout in the first game 15-13 but fell 3-1 in the low-scoring second game.

Wallace State is now 20-5 (4-0 ACCC), while Volunteer State is now 22-6 after the doubleheader.

G1: Wallace State 15, Volunteer State 13

In game one, Wallace scored twice in the top of the first to grab a 2-0 lead. Vol State responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 5-2. The Pioneers added two more runs in the second inning to extend their lead to 7-2.

The Lions scored three in the top of the third to cut the deficit to 7-5, only to see Vol State add another run in the bottom of the inning to push the lead to 8-5.

Wallace State’s bats came alive in the top of the fourth when the Lions erupted for seven runs to take a 12-8 lead. After the Pioneers added a run in the bottom of the inning, Wallace led 12-9.

Both teams added a run in the fifth inning before a scoreless sixth inning, leaving the score 13-10. The Lions pushed their lead to five by plating two runs in the top of the seventh. Vol State put pressure on Wallace with three runs in the bottom of the inning but the Lions ended the game victorious.

The Lion offense erupted for a season-high six home runs. Brandy Phillips and Brooklyn Sertell each had two home runs, while Ashlyn Burns and Lexie Kelly each had one.

Sertell finished 2-of-3 with five RBIs and two runs scored, while Phillips was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, four runs scored and a stolen base.

Charli Kyser was 3-of-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Kelly added three RBIs. Burns and Leah Graves also had an RBI apiece.

Ava Smith picked up her eighth win of the season, pitching 5.1 innings in relief of starter Madeline Howard. Smith allowed five runs on 10 hits while striking out four. Phillips got the final two outs of the game to earn her second save of the season.

G2: Volunteer State 3, Wallace State 1

Pitching dominated the second game of the doubleheader as both teams struggled to score. Vol State struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first. Wallace State responded with their only run of the game in the top of the third to make the score 2-1. The Pioneers added a run in the bottom of the fifth to close out the scoring.

Tenayja Thomas led the Lion offense with three hits, a run scored and a stolen base. Kyser added a hit and an RBI. Burns, Phillips and Sertell also had a hit.

Phillips (5-1) took the complete-game loss after allowing three runs on hits while striking out two.

Preview of Northeast Alabama Series

Wallace State opens a four-game conference series Thursday with Northeast Alabama. The Lions will host the Mustangs in a doubleheader starting at 1 pm. Wallace State will complete the series on Saturday in a doubleheader at Northeast Alabama.

The Mustangs enter the series 11-5 overall and 2-2 in conference play. They split their series with Coastal Alabama - South, winning two games at home and dropping two on the road.

Batting

Northeast’s Chloe Hatch leads the conference with a .513 batting average, while teammate Kimber Craig is fifth with a .455 average. Kiley Weston is fourth in the conference with 13 steals.

Pitching

Skylar Branch leads the team and is second in the conference with a 0.86 ERA, while Audrey Gunter is second in the conference with four saves.