Lions Softball Goes on Road and Sweeps Shelton State

Tuscaloosa, Ala. — The Lions' softball team bounced back from their doubleheader loss on the road at Northwest-Shoals with a sweep of their own. They defeated the Patriots 7-4 in game one and held on for a 4-3 win in the second game.

Wallace State is now 29-8 overall and 11-3 in conference play. Shelton State falls to 16-14 and 8-6 in conference. 

GM 1: Wallace State 4, Shelton State 1

After four scoreless innings, Wallace State broke through with two runs in the top of the fifth to grab the lead. Lexie Kelly reached on an error to give the Lions a runner. Reese Decker then walked to give Wallace runners at first and second. Tenayja Thomas moved the runners to second and third. With two outs in the inning, Brandy Phillips doubled to left, driving home Kelly and Decker.

Shelton cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth when they opened the inning with a single and a double.

With two outs in the top of the seventh. Phillips singled to center field to give the Lions a runner. Charli Kyser then homered to center to score Phillips and herself and gave Wallace a 4-1 lead. Madeline Howard held off a Shelton rally in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.

Phillips finished 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored. Kyser was 1-for-4 with two RBIs, while Ashlyn Burns, Brooklyn Sertell, and Kaelyn Jones each had a hit.

Howard picked up the win with a complete game, a six-hitter.

GM 2: Wallace State 5, Shelton State 4

The Bucs started things in the third inning when they plated two runs to break a 0-0 tie. With two outs in the inning and runners at second and third, Shelton State got a bases clearing single to take a 2-0 lead.

The Lions responded in the top of the fourth with two runs to make the score 2-2. With two outs in the inning, Decker walked to give Wallace a runner. Thomas then singled to move Decker to second. Jones singled to load the bases for Phillips, who hit an infield single, plating Decker. Kyser reached on an error to bring home Thomas from third for the second run.

Shlelton got a one-out walk that led to a run, following a sacrifice bunt and a Wallace error. The run gave the Bucs a 3-2 lead.

With the Lions trailing by one in the top of the seventh, Thomas reached on an error to get things going for Wallace. Jones then hit an infield single, giving the Lions runners at first and second. After Phillips's sacrifice fly to left field that moved the runners to second and third, Kyser singled back up the middle to plate Thomas and tie the game at 3-3. Sertell then tripled, driving home Jones and Kyser to put the Lions up 5-3.

Shelton tried to rally in the bottom of the inning when they got a double with two outs. The next batter singled to plate a run, making it 5-4, but Ava Smith forced a grounder for the third and final out to end the game.

Smith pitched a complete game to earn the win. She allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out two.

Jones finished 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead Wallace. Thomas, Phillips, Kyser, and Sertell each had a hit for the Lions. Thomas scored twice, while Kyser and Decker also scored runs. Sertell had two RBIs, while Kyser and Phillips each had one.