Lady Bucs Overpower EMCC in Doubleheader Sweep

Scooba, Miss. - The Shelton State Lady Bucs softball team overpowered the East Mississippi Lady Lions in doubleheader sweep, winning game one 14-0 and game two 9-5.

The Lady Bucs tallied 26 hits in the two games nearly doubling their total through the first four games of the season (31). Shelton State doubled their home run total on the year (4), as they launched four long balls in the 12 innings of play. 

Anna Valentine went 7-for-7 with five runs scored and three RBIs in the two games. 

Chloe Mitchell belted two home runs with five RBIs. She also scored eight runs, out-scoring the Lady Lions by herself. 

The Lady Bucs pitching staff had 17 strikeouts and no walks in the double header. 

Game 1

Mackenzie Harper was a fourth inning lead-off double away from a perfect game in the opener as she struck out nine of 17 batters she faced in five innings of work.

The Lady Bucs set the tone early as a trio of singles from Valentine, Mitchell, and Tyeshia Williams loaded the bases in the opening frame. Karlie Beth Beasley would draw a walk, scoring Valentine before Megan Wilbanks grounded into an RBI fielder's choice giving the Lady Bucs a 2-0 lead before EMCC stepped to the plate.

Similar to the first inning, Valentine and Mitchell led off the third with a pair of base hits, but this time Tyeshia Williams went yard, giving the Lady Bucs a 5-0 lead.

The fourth inning saw the Lady Bucs bust the game open as Reagan Landrum led the inning off with a single. Arianna Shorter and Layla Bradshaw would draw back-to-back walks. Valentine would step to the plate and single for the third time in as many as bats scoring Jamie Hocutt, who was pinch running for Landrum. The bases would remain loaded, an Williams and Beasley would both draw walks, increasing the lead to 8-0. Megan Wilbanks would drive in another run and Graidin Haas would ground into an RBI fielder's choice to push the lead to 10-0.

The Lady Bucs would continue to expand the lead in the fifth as a Bradshaw single, Beasley walk, Mitchell double, Wilbanks double, and Haas single would give the Lady Bucs a 14-0 margin.

Game 2

Chloe Mitchell launched two home runs and drove in four runs in the Lady Bucs 9-5 victory in game two.

The Lady Bucs continued their hot streak at the plate as they once again had a trio of singles in the first inning (Mitchell, Valentine, and Marleigh McWilliams) that pushed across an early run.

The Lady Lions would answer unlike game one as they matched their hit total from game one in just seven pitches. An error put two Lady Lions on base, and a home run gave EMCC their first lead of the day at 3-1. EMCC was able to add a solo home run later in the inning to push their lead to 4-1.

Trailing for the first time in eight innings, the Lady Bucs answered the bell as a pair of singles from Williams and Shorter set the stage for a Mitchell game-tying home run.

Watkins followed the home run with a base hit and a stolen base that allowed her to score the go ahead run on a Valentine base hit.

Mitchell would strike again with a leadoff home run in the fourth to stretch the lead to 6-4. 

Valentine would record her sixth hit of the day and come around to score on a McWilliams two-run blast giving the Lady Bucs an 8-4 lead. 

A solo home run in the fifth would cut into the lead for EMCC but they would not draw any closer.

Mitchell would lead off the sixth with a walk and come around to score on a pair of passed balls after a Watkins sacrifice bunt.

McWilliams started the game in the circle for the Lady Bucs going 4.1 innings, while giving up five runs (3 earned) on eight hits. 

Beasley closed the game, allowing just one hit in 2.2 innings and striking out five. 

The Lady Bucs return to action this weekend as they travel to Gardendale to host the Turf Wars Classic. They will face Pellissippi State (11:00 a.m.) and Walters State (2:00 p.m.) on Saturday, February 14th.