No. 3 Wallace State softball keeps season alive behind Kirby’s CG; Lions play again at 8 p.m.

View more pictures vs. Butler CC | https://www.flickr.com/photos/wallacestate/albums/72177720299257579

View more pictures vs. Paris JC on Tuesday | https://www.flickr.com/photos/wallacestate/albums/72177720299228186

YUMA, ARIZ. – Leigha Kirby tossed a complete game, Olivia Ball and Sarah Beth Brake each hit homers and Wallace State’s third-ranked softball team kept its season alive with an 8-1 victory over Butler (Kan.) CC on Wednesday afternoon in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I National Championship at the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex.

Wallace State, seeded third, rebounded with a convincing victory after losing in the opening round, 7-5, to Paris Junior College on Tuesday night.

Kirby, a Pisgah native and the ACCC Pitcher of the Year, lifted the Lions with a gem, recording 10 strikeouts and scattering one run on five hits.

Olivia Ball gave Wallace State (55-3) an early 1-0 edge with a solo homer in the second inning. Harper Niblett’s sacrifice fly in the third made it 2-0.

Sixth-seeded Butler registered its lone run in the bottom of the third.

The Lions pulled away with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by Brake’s pinch-hit, two-run homer.

Niblett finished 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, a stolen base and run scored, while Felicity Frame was 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and a stolen base.

Gracie Benton, Jaiden Farnetti and Lillyanna Cartee each added singles.

Wallace State advances to play either Lake Land or Odessa College tonight at 8 Central.

In the Lions’ opener on Tuesday, Benton had a three-run homer. Niblett finished with a pair of hits, including a two-run double, and Frame added two singles and a run scored. Abbie Waters contributed a double.

For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit www.athletics.wallacestate.edu or the athletics Facebook page at www.wallacestate.edu/athleticsfb.

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Wallace State’s Leigha Kirby delivers a pitch during her complete game victory against Butler CC on Wednesday.

 

Olivia Ball acknowledges her solo home run in Wednesday’s victory.

 

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