Wilbanks, Overton Lead Softball Past College of Lake County; Softball Posts Extra-Innings Win

OXFORD – Freshman Megan Wilbanks and freshman Megan Overton combined for five hits and five RBIs to lead the Shelton State Community College softball to a 9-1 run-rule win over the College of Lake County on Friday afternoon at Choccolocco Park.

Shelton State (6-5) will face Indian Hills Community College at 6 p.m. this evening.

Wilbanks went 3-for-3 with three runs and one RBI, while Hocutt was 2-for-2 and added four RBIs.

The Lady Bucs scored three runs in the second inning and four runs in the third inning to take control of the game.

In the second, sophomore third baseman Tyeshia Williams drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on Wilbanks' one-out double. Hocutt followed with an RBI single that scored Williams to tie the game at 1-1. Wilbanks scored the second run of the inning on a wild pitch and Hocutt took third on the play. Overton walked to put runners on the corners, and Ari Shorter reached on a two-out infield single that scored Hocutt to push the lead to 3-1.

The Bucs stretched the lead to 7-1 in the third inning. Freshman right fielder Anna Valentine and Williams both singled and freshman left fielder Laila Watkins reached on an error to load the bases. Wilbanks followed with one-out RBI single to left and Overton delivered the big hit with bases-clearing double.

Freshman pinch-hitter Katie Beth Beasley delivered a sacrifice fly in the fourth to make it 8-1.

Overton's RBI single in the fifth inning ended the game with a run-rule win.

Sophomore Mackenzie Harper (2-1) worked four innings for the win. She allowed one unearned run and three hits, six strikeouts and three walks. Freshman Marleigh McWilliams retired three of the four batters she faced in the fifth inning.

The College of Lake County (0-2), located in Graysville, Ill., scored an unearned run the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Sophia Zapeda (0-1) was charged with the loss. She allowed five earned runs and five hits in two-plus innings.

Game 2

The Shelton State Community College women's softball team scored two runs in the eighth inning to defeat Indian Hills Community College 4-3 on Friday night at Choccolocco Park.

Shelton State (7-5) defeated the College of Lake County 9-1 earlier in the day.

The Lady Bucs are 6-2 in their last eight games. 

Shelton State began the top of the eighth inning with freshman Anna Valentine being placed at second base.

Valentine moved to third base on freshman Lyndi Perkins sacrifice bunt. After a pop out for the second out, freshman Laila Watkins lined a single to left to score Valentine with the go-ahead run. 

Watkins took second on the throw home and later scored an insurance run when the Warriors committed two errors one play. 

Watkins went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, one RBI and one stolen base.  

In the bottom of the eighth, Kate Hickenbottom was placed at second base and immediately scored on a double to centerfield by Madisyn Buysse to make 4-3.

With the tying run at second base and winning run at the plate, freshman Karlie Beth Beasley dug deep in the circle and retired the next three hitters on a pair of line outs and a ground out to clinch her 125-pitch complete game victory.

Beasley (0-0) allowed three runs (2 earned) and five hits over eight innings, with seven strikeouts and two walks. 

Maggie Grant (2-3), who was charged with three runs (1 earned) and four hits in three innings, took the loss.

Indian Hills (3-10) tied the game at 2-2 with three doubles in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Shelton State scored single runs in the second and sixth innings to take a 2-0 lead.

Watkins reached on an error and stole home to put the Bucs up 1-0 in the second. 

Sophomore Tyeshia Williams had an RBI single that scored Valentine in the sixth. 

Valentine was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and one walk. 

The Lady Bucs will travel to Fulton, Miss., on Thursday, Feb. 26 to face Itawamba Community College in a double header at 1 p.m.