TUSCALOOSA – Shelton State scored at least one run in every inning on Friday en route to a pair of run-rule wins over Lawson State.
The Bucs (27-14, 17-5 ACCC) posted a 12-2 win in game one and then recorded a 21-3 blowout win game two. Both games ended after five innings due to the 10-run rule.
The 21 runs are the most runs in a game by the Bucs this season. The previous high was 16 runs at Chipola (W, 16-3) on Feb. 14. The previous high in an ACCC game was 15 runs at Southern Union (W, 15-1) on March 7.
The 21 runs are the most by the Bucs since a 21-11 win over Bevill State on April 27, 2022.
Shelton State is 15-0 this season when scoring 10 or more runs. The Bucs have reached double figures in their last five games.
Lawson State (7-28, 0-22 ACCC) actually took a 1-0 lead the first inning in game one. Zakry Licastro put the Cougars up with an RBI single.
The lead was short-lived as the Bucs collected three straight one-out hits in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-0 lead.
Sophomore right fielder Jordan Evans and sophomore second baseman Kyle Morrison stroked back-to-back doubles, and sophomore first baseman Wesley Helms launched a two-run home run. It was his first home run of the year.
Evans doubled in the second inning and later scored when sophomore shortstop Nick Wilson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 4-1.
Sophomore DH Christian Pritchett drew a leadoff walk in the third and scored on freshman Pierce Dutton’s sac fly to push the lead to 5-1.
Morrison doubled to lead off the fourth and scored on freshman left fielder Mason Steele’s ground out to extend the lead to 6-1.
Jesus Moseque hit a wind-aided solo home run for the Cougars in the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-2.
The Bucs scored six times in the bottom of the inning to complete the 12-2 run-rule win.
Dutton scored on a wild pitch and Evans scored on a bases loaded walk by Wilson. Freshman pinch-hitter Trenton Shirley brought home Morrison with an RBI single. Pritchett ended the game with a three-run double to right.
Sophomore right hander Bodie Vail (4-2) picked up the win the 67-pitch, complete-game effort. He allowed two runs on three hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Matthew Young (2-5) took the loss for Lawson State.
The offensive on-slaught continued in game two as the Bucs scored five runs in the first, seven in the second and eight in the fourth.
Helms and Steele belted two-run home runs in the first inning to give the Bucs a 5-0 lead.
The Bucs got RBI singles from Helms and Pritchett, a two-run single from Steele and two-run double from freshman second baseman Paxton Ponder the second inning.
Morrison doubled and scored on Wilson’s sac fly in the third inning.
The Bucs added eight runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by Shirley’s RBI double and RBI singles by freshman first baseman Tripp Gann and Ponder.
Cory Cline had two RBIs for the Cougars in game two.
Freshman right hander Caleb Pittman (6-2) recorded the win on the mound.
Gavin Daniel (0-5) took the loss for Lawson State.
The two teams will wrap up the series with a Noon doubleheader on Saturday at Lawson State.
GAME NOTES:
Shelton State has won six straight games, it’s second-longest winning streak of the season. Since, Feb. 29, Shelton State is 24-5 in the last 29 games.
Shelton State moves into a tie for first place with Coastal Alabama South in the ACCC Division I standings. The Bucs and Coyotes are both 17-5 in the league standings. Coastal South lost both games to Wallace State Hanceville on Friday.
The Bucs tallied 33 runs and 24 hits in the double header. The Bucs also took advantage of 18 walks and eight hit batters.
The 21 runs are the most runs in a game by the Bucs this season. The previous high was 16 runs at Chipola (W, 16-3) on Feb. 14. The previous high in an ACCC game was 15 runs at Southern Union (W, 15-1) on March 7.
The 21 runs are the most by the Bucs since a 21-11 win over Bevill State on April 27, 2022.
Shelton State is the sixth different ACCC team to score 20 runs in a game this season.
Helms belted his first two home runs of the season on Friday. He hit a two-run home run in the first inning of game one and added another two-run homer in the first inning of game two. For the day, he was 3-for-4 with four runs scored, two home runs and five RBIs. He reached base in six of seven plate appearances.
Morrison reached base in all eight plate appearances against Lawson State. He was 4-for-4 with six runs scored, three walks, two doubles and two RBIs.
Pritchett was 4-for-4 with three runs scored, one double and five RBIs. He reached base seven times in eight plate appearances.
Wilson scored three runs and had four RBIs against his former team. Wilson played at Lawson State in 2023. He reached base five times, with three walks and two hit by pitch.
Dutton scored three runs and had four stolen bases against the Cougars. Dutton leads the team with 26 stolen bases this season.
Evans added two doubles, three runs scored and one stolen base on Friday.
Shirley was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs off the bench. He had a pinch-hit RBI single in game one and added an RBI double and bases-loaded walk in game two.
Waugh had three walks in three plate appearances against the Cougars. He also scored one run and added one RBI.
Freshman Hayden Turner had one hit, one run, one RBI and one walk as backup left fielder.
Gann had a pinch-hit RBI single in the fourth inning of game two. Gann has five straight pinch-hits dating back to March 26.
Sophomore Hayes Alford was hit by a pitch twice and scored two runs.
Freshman RHP Salvy Urso allowed on unearned run in 2 1/3 innings in relief. He added two strikeouts.
Freshman Andrew Thomas made his ACCC debut on the mound. He pitched one scoreless inning and allowed one hit and struck out two.
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