Baseball Sweeps Hanceville

TUSCALOOSA - The Shelton State Community College baseball team extended its winning streak to nine games with a double header sweep over rival Wallace State on Thursday afternoon.

Shelton State (18-8, 9-1 ACCC) recorded its sixth shutout of the season with an 8-0 win in game one. The Bucs won the second game 10-2 via run-rule in seven innings.

Sophomore Gunner Dodd, freshman Jarret Scott, sophomore Kenneth Diddell, and freshman Walker Craig combined in the four-hit shutout.

Freshman shortstop Griffin Rardin, sophomore right fielder Jackson Henderson, and sophomore third baseman Slade Sullivan combined for six of the Bucs 11 hits in the opener.

The Bucs scored two runs in each of the guest two innings to take a 4-0.

In the first inning, sophomore first baseman James Graphos drove in the first run with a sac fly. Sophomore DH John Robicheaux plated the second run with an RBI double 

The Bucs doubled the lead to 4-0 in the second inning on a solo home run by Sullivan and sac fly by freshman left fielder Owen Anchors.

Wallace State (17-13, 6-4 ACCC) threatened in both the fifth and sixth innings but did not score.

The Lions loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning. Dodd got a strikeout and groundout to keep the Lions off the board. 

Shelton State scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth to push the lead to 8-0.

Rardin brought home the first run with an RBI single. Anchors followed with a sac fly and Henderson had an RBI single. Rardin scored on a passed ball.

Dodd (3-2) threw five shutout innings for his third straight ACCC win. He allowed five hits and struck out three.

Druw Smith (1-2) was charged with the loss after he allowed six runs in four-plus innings.

The Lions loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth off Scott.

After two hits and a walk, Diddell came out of the bullpen and killed the rally with a strikeout and double play. 

The Bucs turned three double plays in the opener and four in the double header.

Craig worked a perfect seventh inning to complete the shutout.

The Bucs got more offense and dominant pitching in game two.

Shelton State jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one inning. 

Anchors ripped a double to left center and scored on Henderson's RBI single to right. Graphos followed with an RBI double to left center. 

Robicheaux then singled to out runners on the corners. Freshman centerfielder Cody Kroppscored Graphos with a safety squeeze bunt. 

Sam Vincent (1-1) only lasted one inning on the mound.

The Bucs stretched the lead to 6-0 in the fourth. Rardin had an RBI ground out and Anchors delivered his third sac fly of the day.

The Lions finally broke through with two runs in the sixth inning on Sam Henegar's two-out, two-run single. 

The two-run single snapped two lenghty scoreless for the Bucs.

Driskell had thrown 25 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to Feb. 20.

The Bucs staff had thrown 30 consecutive scoreless innings at home dating back to March 5

Robicheaux snacked a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning to push the lead to 9-2.

Driskell (5-0) went six innings for the win. He allowed two runs on six hits.

Sophomore Peyton Zupancic pitched a scoreless seventh inning. He allowed two singles to open inning then bounced back to strike out the side.

Robicheaux ended the game  with an RBI ground out in the seventh inning.

The series continues on Saturday with s 1 p.m. doubleheader in Hanceville.