BIRMINGHAM – Shelton State posted it’s fifth ACCC series win of the season, and it’s second four-game sweep, with a pair of wins over Lawson State at Roy Johnson Field.
The Bucs survived a late-inning threat and held on for a 9-7 win over the Cougars in game one. The Bucs cruised to a 14-0 run-rule win in game two.
Shelton State (29-14, 19-5 ACCC) has won eight straight games, matching its longest winning streak of the year. The Bucs also won eight straight games from March 14-24.
Lawson State (7-30, 0-24 ACCC) has now lost 25 straight games.
Freshmen RHPs Mason Steele and Bryant Akridge combined on the one-hit shutout in game two.
The duo came within two outs of a no-hitter before TJ Blackmon singled to right with one out in the fifth inning.
The Bucs then turned their third double play of the day to preserve the sixth shutout of the year.
Steele (6-0) worked three innings for the win, while Akridge logged his first career save.
Steele and Akridge also combined for a shutout in the 10-0 win over WS Hanceville on April 6.
The offense provided more than enough support, scoring 14 runs on 12 hits. The Bucs scored four runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings.
The Bucs grabbed a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Freshman center fielder Pierce Dutton ripped a leadoff triple and scored on a passed ball. Sophomore shortstop Nick Wilson added a two-run single and Steele capped the inning with an RBI double.
Shelton State extended the lead to 6-0 with a pair of two-out runs in the third inning. Steele singled and scored on freshman second baseman Paxton Ponder’s triple to right field. Ponder scored on a wild pitch.
The Bucs added four runs in the fourth to make it 10-0. Sophomore first baseman Wesley Helms delivered an RBI single and sophomore left fielder Christian Pritchett was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Steele reached on a fielder’s choice to score Helms and Wilson scored on an error.
Lawson State starter David Cline (3-7) allowed 10 runs in four innings and took the loss.
Shelton State tacked on four more runs in the fifth to push the lead to 14-0. Sophomore right fielder Jordan Evans singled and later scored on an error. Wilson had an RBI double and Pritchett added an two-run single.
In the opener, Shelton State took a 9-2 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning before the Cougars made things interesting.
Lawson State scored five runs in the inning, including a grand slam by Bryson Burns, to close the gap to 9-7.
After allowing the grand slam, freshman John Michael Pickens retired the next four hitters as the Bucs held on for the win.
Shelton State grabbed a 3-0 lead in the third, highlighted by Morrison’s two-run double.
Lawson State got single runs in the third and four innings to cut the deficit to 3-2.
The Bucs struck for five runs in the fifth to seemingly take control of the game.
Helms and Steele delivered RBI singles to push the lead to 5-2. Sophomore third baseman Davis Randolph stroked a two-run single and sophomore catcher Whitt Winfield added an RBI double to give the Bucs an 8-2 lead.
Shelton State added a run in the sixth to push the lead to 9-3. Helms drew a two-out walk and scored on Pritchett’s two-out single.
Freshman right-hander JD Wilkins (6-1) worked 4 2/3 innings for the win. He allowed two runs and six hits.
Lawson State starter Chase Christian (1-4) threw 142 pitches in the complete-game effort. He allowed nine runs and 12 hits in the loss.
Shelton State will host Bevill State on Monday, April 15 at 4 p.m. in the final non-conference game of the season.
GAME NOTES:
Shelton State (29-14, 19-5 ACCC) posted its 29th win of the season on Saturday, surpassing last year’s regular season total. The Bucs finished the 2023 regular season wit a 28-27 record.
Shelton State holds a one-game lead over Coastal Alabama South in the ACCC standings. The Coyotes (20-18, 17-5 ACCC) wrap up their series with Wallace State Hanceville on Sunday.
Shelton State (20-5) is one conference win away from marching last year’s conference win total. The Bucs finished 20-14 in ACCC play in 2023.
The Bucs have won eight straight games, matching its longest winning streak of the year. The Bucs also won eight straight games from March 14-24.
Shelton State turned four double plays in the series, including three on Saturday. The Bucs lead all NJCAA teams with 33 double plays this year.
Shelton State recorded its sixth shutout of the season on Saturday. The Bucs have shutouts against Gadsden State, Calhoun, Snead State, WS Hanceville (2) and Lawson State.
Steele and Akridge have been a part of two combined shutouts this year. The duo combined to shutout WS Hanceville (10-0) on April 6 and Lawson State (14-0) on Saturday.
The Bucs recorded two triples (Dutton and Ponder) on Saturday and now has 13 on the season. The Bucs have recorded 12 triples in the last 15 games.
Morrison reached base in 14 of 15 plate appearances (.933 OBP) against Lawson State. He reached base in 11 straight plate appearances before a fly out to left in game one on Saturday. He has reached base in 32 consecutive games.
Morrison was 6-for-7 (.857) with 10 runs scored, five walks, four doubles, four RBIs and three HBPs in the series.
Helms was 6-for-10 (.600) with seven runs scored, two home runs and seven RBIs. He also drew three walks. He homered in the first inning in each of the first two games of the series.
Pritchett was 6-for-10 (.600) with four runs, one double and nine RBIs against Lawson State.
Steele was 5-for-10 (.500) with four runs, one double and eight RBIs in the series. He also tossed three shutout innings for his sixth win of season in the series finale.
Randolph was 5-for-11 (.455) with two doubles and eight RBIs in four games this week. He had a career-high 4 RBIs against Marion on April 8.
Ponder was 3-for-8 (.375) with two runs, one double, one triple and four RBIs in two starts vs. Lawson State.
Wilson went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBIs in the series finale.
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