Bucs Run-Rule Lions; Split Weekend Series

TUSCALOOSA - The fifth-ranked Shelton State baseball team erupted for 11 runs en route to an 11-2 run-rule win over rival Wallace State Hanceville in the series finale Saturday afternoon. 

Shelton State (30-8, 14-6 ACCC) dropped game one 6-2 but rebounded to win the night cap.

The Bucs used the same formula on Thursday, dropping game before rallying for the win in game two.

Hanceville (23-15, 11-9 ACCC) strung together three straight hits in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Colton Payton delivered the RBI single.

Shelton State answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take its first lead of the day.

Sophomore centerfielder Pierce Dutton led off the game and was hit by a pitch. He promptly stole second and moved to third on a subsequent throwing error by the catcher.

Freshman DH Jackson Henderson grounded out to shortstop to score Dutton with the tying run.

Sophomore left fielder Mason Steele and freshman catcher Grant Browning delivered back-to-back singles.

Steele and Browning pulled off the double steal and Steele scored on the second throwing error by the catcher in the inning.

The Bucs broke the game open with five runs on five hits in the fourth inning. Freshman Slade Sullivan delivered a two-run single to stretch the lead to 4-1. Henderson smacked a two-run single to push the lead to 6-1. Dutton scored on a throwing error to make it 7-1.

Freshman RHP Gunner Dodd (4-0) worked a season-high six innings for the win. He held the Lions to one run on four hits, with five strikeouts and one walk. He allowed only one hit after the first inning.

Jayden Martin (4-2) took the loss for the Lions.

The Lions also committed four errors.

Hanceville scored an unearned run in the seventh inning to make it 7-2.

The Bucs scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to complete the run-rule win. Sullivan smashed a two-run double to left and sophomore right fielder Tripp Gann added a two-run double to right.

Sullivan finished with two hits and four RBIs. Henderson added two hits and three RBIs.

Hanceville took the first game 6-2 behind the hitting of Andrew Lawrence and pitch of Cole Molina.

Lawrence had three hits and scored one run. 

Molina (3-1) limited the Bucs to two runs in five hits in seven innings, with eight strikeouts and one walk.

Freshman RHP Eli Driskell (5-2) took the loss for the Bucs.

Payton added two hits and two RBIs, including a solo home run.

The Bucs scored single runs in the third and seventh innings. 

Sophomore shortstop Paxton Ponder reached on an error and scored on Dutton's RBI triple in the third.

Sophomore third baseman Brady Waugh stroked a lead off triple in the seventh and scored on Gann's pinch-hit single.