Lady Bucs Split to Close out JUCO Showdown
| Final (8) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 0 |
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0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 2 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
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0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
Panama City Beach, FL- The Shelton State softball team split a pair of games to close out play in Visit Panama City Beach JUCO Showdown. The Lady Bucs (1-3) defeated Patrick & Henry CC (VA) 5-4 in 8 innings, before a late collapse led to a 3-2 loss to Jones College (MS).
In game one, Patrick & Henry struck first, plating 2 runs on three straight hits capped off by a 2 RBI triple. The Lady Bucs would answer in the 3rd inning as Layla Bradshaw led the inning off with a base hit before being moved into scoring position on Anna Valentine sacrifice bunt. Bradshaw scored on a Lily Vold double and Vold would later score on a Megan Wilbanks base hit to knot the game at 2.
Patrick & Henry would regain the lead in the bottom half of the inning once again stringing together a trio of hits. The Lady Bucs were able to draw even again as Lily Vold led the top of 5th off with a double. Graidin Haas would enter the game to courtesy run for Vold, and later score on Megan Wilbanks base hit, tying the game at 3.
The Lady Bucs nearly struck again in the top of 7th as Lily Vold walked to start the inning before advancing to third on a Wilbanks double. The Lady Patriots were able to escape the jam but could not push a run across in the bottom half as the game was sent to extra innings.
The international tie breaker rule place Jamie Hocutt at 2nd base to start the 8th inning as an Ari Shorter single and Anna Valentine double gave the Lady Bucs a 5-3 lead. A pair of groundouts led to a Lady Patriot run in the bottom of the inning, but the Lady Bucs slammed the door, marking their first victory of the 2026 campaign.
Marleigh McWilliams went the distance in the circle allowing just 4 runs (3 earned) on 9 hits while striking out 4.
Game 2
Despite holding the lead 6 ½ innings, the Lady Bucs were unable to close out the Jones College Lady Bobcats in a nail biting 3-2 loss.
The Lady Bucs used a combination of stellar pitching and defense to hold the Lady Bobcats to no runs on five hits through the first 6 innings. Karlie Beth Beasley threw all 7 innings allowing 3 runs on 9 hits while striking out 5.
Chloe Mitchell put the Lady Bucs in the lead with a solo home run in the 2nd inning, her tenth career long ball, but first of the 2026 season.
The score would hold a 1-0 until the 7th, when the Lady Bobcats strung together 3 consecutive singles to load the bases. The next batter would launch a 2 RBI double into the gap to give the Lady Bobcats their first lead of the game. A sacrifice fly would tack on an important insurance run heading into the bottom of the 7th.
The Lady Bucs did no go quietly as Tyeshia Williams would lead the inning off with a double. After two strikeouts, Ari Shorter punched a base hit through the right side to keep the Lady Bucs alive. Layla Bradshaw was able to put the ball in play with the Lady Bucs down to their final out and force the Lady Bobcats into an error. Williams scored making it a one-run game, but Shorter was thrown out at home attempting to tie the game.