HANCEVILLE – Shelton State pushed across four runs in the ninth inning en route to a 7-3 win in the second game of Thursday’s ACCC double header at James Bailey Stadium.
Sophomore shortstop Nick Wilson delivered the tie-breaking sac fly in the ninth to score sophomore Wesley Helms with the go-ahead run.
The Bucs tacked on three more runs on RBI singles by sophomore DH Christian Pritchett and freshman second baseman Paxton Ponder, and a bases-loaded walk to freshman centerfielder Pierce Dutton to push the lead to 7-3.
Shelton State (22-14, 13-5 ACCC) dropped game one in similar fashion, as Wallace State Hanceville posted four straight two-out hits in the bottom of the seventh inning for the 3-2 walk-off win.
The Bucs ninth inning rally began when Helms ripped a one-out double to left and sophomore third baseman Kyle Morrison singled to left to put runners on the corners.
Wilson then delivered the go-ahead sac fly to center to make it 4-3.
Freshman left fielder Mason Steele waked and Pritchett and Ponder both followed with RBI singles to give the Bucs a 6-3 lead.
Sophomore catcher Whitt Winfield walked to load the bases and Dutton walked to chase home Steele to make it 7-3.
Cole Molina (1-2), one four pitchers used by the Lions in the ninth inning, took the loss.
Bucs sophomore right hander Caleb Pittman (5-2) pitched eight innings for his team-leading fifth win. He allowed three runs and eight hits, with six strikeouts and no walks.
Freshman left-hander John Michael Pickens, who took the loss in game one after he allowed three straight two-out hits, rebounded with a scoreless ninth inning to nail down the win.
Hanceville (15-22, 10-8 ACCC) took a 1-0 lead in the first on a one-out solo home run by Connor Cosby.
Pittman shook off the home run and retired 14 of the next 15 batters, including 10 straight to allow his offense to get on the board.
Shelton State took a 2-1 lead on Morrison’s two-run home run in the fifth inning. It was his team-leading seventh homer of the year.
The Bucs stretched the lead to 3-1 with a two-out run in the sixth. Winfield walked, stole second and scored on Dutton’s RBI single.
The Lions tied the game at 3-3 with three straight two-out hits in the bottom of the eighth. Colton Payton and Juan Pablo Morales both had RBI doubles.
Pittman got Logan Green on ground out back the mound to end the inning and strand the go-ahead run at third.
Shelton State sophomore right-hander Bodie Vail and Hanceville freshman right-hander Luke Fernandez battled in
pitchers duel in the opener.
Fernandez, a transfer from Oklahoma State, held the Bucs scoreless through six innings on just two hits.
The Bucs had several chances to score as Fernandez walked six batters. The Bucs stranded one base runner in five of the first six innings, included leaving the bases loaded in the first inning.
Vail did his part holding the Lions in check through six innings, but trailed 1-0 heading into the seventh inning.
Hanceville scratched across a run in the bottom of the third when Morales drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Lions a 1-0.
Shelton State finally got to Fernandez in the ninth, scoring two runs on four hits to take a 2-1 lead.
Freshman pinch-hitter Tripp Gann lined a one-out single to center start the rally. Ponder followed with a single to right, sending sophomore pinch-runner Houston Evans to third.
Sophomore right fielder Jordan Evans followed with a bunt single that scored Evans from third with the tying run.
After a strikeout, Morrison singled to left-center to chase Ponder home with the go-ahead run.
Vail went back the mound for the bottom of the seventh and got two quick outs – both on grounders back to the mound.
Pinch-hitter Logan Green kept the inning alive with a single to left on a two-strike count.
Pickens replaced Vail on the mound and allowed three straight singles to pinch-hitter JW Hopkins, third baseman Jacob Fernandez and second baseman Raul Diaz as the Lions posted the 3-2 walk-off win.
Pickens (0-2) was charged with the loss.
Vail worked 6 2/3 innings in the no decision. He allowed two runs and eight hits, with six strikeouts and four walks.
Fernandez (1-2) tossed his fourth straight complete game for the Lions and earned his first win. He allowed two runs in six hits, with six strikeouts and five walks.
The series continues on Saturday, April 6 with double header in Tuscaloosa. The first game begins at Noon.
GAME NOTES:
Shelton State (22-14, 13-5 ACCC) tied with Southern Union (25-10, 13-5) and Snead State (22-12, 13-5 ACCC) for second place in the ACCC standings.
Coastal Alabama South (18-16, 14-2 ACCC) leads the division by two games.
Shelton State got two quality starts on the mound Thursday. Vail held the Lions to two runs in 6 2/3 innings in game one. Pittman held the Lions to three runs in eight innings in the nightcap.
The duo held Hanceville to five runs and 16 hits in 14 2/3 innings, with 12 strikeouts and four walks.
Pittman is riding a 3-game winning streak against Calhoun, Snead State and Wallace Hanceville. In those three games, he is 3-0 with a 1.37 ERA. He has worked 19 2/3 innings and allowed three runs and 13 hits, with 24 strikeouts and one walk.
Vail has allowed only three earned runs in his last four ACCC starts. He has compiled a 1.84 ERA (24 2/3 innings) in the last four starts.
Shelton State turned its ACCC-leading 26th double play in the eighth inning of game two. The 26 double plays rank second among all NJCAA teams. Northeast Texas leads the nation with 27 double plays.
Dutton was 3-for-9 with one run scored and two RBIs on Thursday. He had two hits and scored one run in game one. He added one hit, one walk and two RBIs in game two.
Helms had two hits and two runs scored in game two. He singled and scored in the two-run fifth inning, and doubled and scored in the four-run ninth inning.
Morrison reached base six times in the doubleheader and has now reached safely in 26 consecutive games. He had an RBI and two walks in game one. He posted two hits, including a 2-run homer in game two.
Wilson had his 31-game on base streak snapped on Thursday. He did not reach base in either game, but did produce the go-ahead sac fly in the ninth inning in game two.
Freshman Brady Waugh made his first career start in ACCC play in game one. He was the Bucs DH.
Gann recorded two pinch-hit singled against the Lions. He is 5-for-6 with a home run and three RBIs in last four games.
Pritchett reached base four times in game two. He was 3-for-4 with one RBI and one walk. He had an RBI single in the four-run, ninth inning.
Winfield drew four walks and scored one run in the double header. He also threw out one of two base stealers.
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