Bucs Post Two Comeback Wins over Gordon State

TUSCALOOSA – The No. 12 ranked Shelton State baseball team celebrated Valentines with a pair of comeback wins over the Gordon State Highlanders on Friday afternoon.

Shelton State (5-1) posted an 8-6 in game one and followed with a 6-2 win in the nightcap. The Bucs trailed in the fifth inning in both games.

Sophomore centerfielder Pierce Dutton paced the Bucs offense on Friday, going 5-for-8 (.625) with three runs scored, five RBIs, one double, one walk and one stolen base.

Freshman second baseman James Graphos recorded two hits, three RBIs and three stolen bases.

Sophomore third baseman Brady Waugh reached base in four of five plate appearances in the opener, including one hit and three walks.

Sophomore left fielder Trenton Shirley was the offensive catalyst in the nightcap, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, one double, one home run and one RBI.

The Bucs tailed 4-2 after four innings but scored four runs in the fifth inning to take control of the game. Freshman catcher Grant Browning drew a lead off walk and Dutton followed with a bunt single. With one out, freshman second baseman James Graphos then lined a single to that scored pinch-runner Lawson Neel to cut the lead to 4-3. Dutton advanced to third on the play. 

Freshman John Robicheaux followed with a safety squeeze that scored Dutton with the tying run. Graphos later scored on a wild pitch to give the Bucs their first lead of the day at 5-4. Waugh and sophomore first baseman Tripp Gann walked to load the bases and sophomore shortstop Paxton Ponder drew a bases loaded walk to score Robicheaux to give the Bucs a 6-4 lead.

Shelton State added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning a Dutton's two-run double to left center to push the lead to 8-4.

Kaden Baggett added a two-run single in the eighth to pull the Highlanders to within 8-6.

Freshman right hander Kenneth Diddell, who entered the game in the eighth inning, pitched a perfect ninth for his first career save.

Freshman right hander Will Harrison (2-0) tossed three innings in relief and earned the win.

The Highlanders took advantage of three hits, two walks and one hit batter to take a 3-0 lead in second inning.

The Bucs answered with two runs in the third inning on RBI singles by Dutton and Graphos.

Zack Counts sac fly in the fifth inning extended Gordon State's lead to 4-2.

Gordon State (5-5) took a 1-0 lead in the third inning in game two of the double header when the Highlanders executed  a double steal.

Shelton State, who was hitless through the first four inning, came to life in the fifth.

Shirley broke up the no-hitter with a solo home run to left field. It was his sixth career home run and first career home run at home.

Following the home run, Neel, freshman third baseman Slade Sullivan and sophomore shortstop Landen Ingram all reached base to load the bases.  Dutton then smashed a three-run double to left-center field to put the Bucs in front 4-1. Freshman right fielder Jackson Henderson followed with a base hit and Graphos added an RBI ground out to score Dutton and make it 5-1.

The Highlanders got a run back in the sixth and threatened for more with the bases loaded and no outs. Freshman right hander Payton Zupancic made his first career appearance for the Bucs and struck out the next three hitters to end the threat.

The Bucs added an insurance run in the bottom of the frame when Shirley doubled and came around to score on a pair of bunts by Neal and Sullivan.

Zupancic retired the Highlanders in order in the seventh for his first career save.

Freshman Gunner Dodd (1-0) worked three innings in relief for his first career win.

Freshman Konnor Keplinger retired all six batters he faced with three strikeouts in his second start of the season.

The two teams will wrap the three-game series on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. on the Shelton State campus.