Bucs Win Season Opener

MARION – No. 6 Shelton State Community College baseball team opened the 2026 season with a 4-1 over Marion Military Institute at Scott Davis Field on Thursday afternoon.

Sophomore Jackson Henderson belted an opposite field home run and freshmen Owen Anchors and Miach Taguiam both collected two hits for the Bucs.

Shelton State (1-0) used five pitchers in Thursday's game, with sophomore Eli Driskell (1-0) picking up the win. He worked two scoreless innings and allowed one hit and struck out four batters.

Freshman Jackson Hunter, sophomore Mitt Landers, sophomore Peyton Zupancic and freshman Corbin Hamric covered the final seven innings out of the bullpen. 

Hunter tossed two hitless innings and struck two in his debut. Landers allowed one run and one hit in his debut on the mound. Zupancic worked two innings and struck out five.  Hamric tossed two perfect innings with four strikeouts for the save in his debut.

Shelton State scored two runs in the second inning to grab an early 2-0 lead. Sophomore Slade Sullivan and Taguiam delivered  baco-to-back singles to open the inning. Sullivan moved to third on a fly ball to right field by sophomore John Robicheaux.  Taguiam stole second base to put runners at second third. Sullivan scored the first run on a wild pitch and Taguiam scored on a second wild pitch two pitches later.

Marion (2-1) scored its lone run in the fifth when Jon Hyde drew a two-out walk and scored on Jackson Newton's RBI double.

Henderson homered in the top of the sixth to the lead back to 3-1.  It was his 10th career home run for the Bucs.

Nate Valles (0-1) worked 5 2/3 innings for the Tigers and gave up three runs in the loss.

Shelton State scored its final run in the eighth inning when Sullivan drew a bases-loaded walk. Sullivan reached base three times, scored one run and added one RBI.

The series will conclude on Saturday, Feb. 7 with a Noon double header on the Shelton State campus.