Baseball Splits with Southern Union

WADLEY – The No. 25 Shelton State Community College baseball team used a late comeback for a win in the first game on Thursday's double header, and they almost did it in game two as well.

Shelton State (21-10, 11-3 ACCC) erased a five-run deficit in the sixth inning and posted a 7-5 win in game one.  The Bucs nearly rallied for a six-run deficit in the night cap before leaving the bases loaded and falling 9-5.

The Bucs scored five run in the sixth inning and two in the seventh for a 7-5 comeback win in the opener.

The comeback began with a walk by sophomore designated hitter John Robicheaux. Freshman shortstop Griffin Rardin followed with a two-run as the Bucs trimmed the deficit to 5-2. 

Freshman first baseman Tanner Hermesch and freshman pinch hitter Jarret Scott drew back-to-back walks.  Freshman catcher  Micah Taguiam delivered a sacrifice bunt moving both runners into scoring position. After a strikeout, sophomore second baseman James Graphos walked the load the bases. Sophomore right fielder Jackson Henderson followed with a two-run single to cut the deficit to 5-4.  Graphos moved the third on a wild pitch and scored the tying run on a passed ball.

Southern Union used four relief pitchers in the inning.

Shelton State scored two runs in the seventh for the 7-5 win.  Rardin and sophomore pinch-hitter Landen Ingram drew back-to-back walks to open the frame. Scott followed with an RBI single to right field to score Rardin and chase Ingram to third base. Taguiam grounded into a double play that allowed Ingram to score from third.

Sophomore right hander Kenneth Diddell (3-1) fired two scoreless innings for the win.

Noah Smith (2-1) suffered the loss for the Bison.

Rardin and Henderson combined for four hits and three RBIs in the win.

Despite trailing the entire game, Shelton State mounted another late-inning rally in game two and brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning.

Graphos drew a lead off walk and that chased Southern Union starter Brayden Seabold.  Freshman Sean Miskowiec came in out of the bullpen. Rardin reached on an error and sophomore third baseman Slade Sullivan had an RBI single to score Graphos and make it a 9-4 game. Ingram delivered a two-out RBI single to make a 9-5 game.  Scott then walked to load the bases. Freshman left fielder Owen Anchors strolled to the plate as the tying run, but struck out on a 3-2 pitch to end the game,

Seabold (3-2) went eight innings for the win. He allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out nine.  Miskowiec picked up his first save.

Southern Union (18-12, 9-5 ACCC) hit four home runs in the nightcap.

Sophomore Eli Driskell (5-1) suffered his first loss of the season. He allowed seven runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out eight.

Robicheaux, Griffin and Henderson all had two hits in the game.  Robicheaux hit his team-leading fifth home run in the fourth inning. Rardin had a pair of doubles and one RBI.

Shelton State and Southern Union will wrap this four-game series on Saturday, March 28 at 1 p.m. in Tuscaloosa.