Lions sweep Gadsden State to open conference play

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — The Wallace State Lions softball team completed a four-game sweep of Gadsden State in ACCC play on Saturday. After winning two games at Gadsden on Thursday, the Lions swept the Cardinals in a doubleheader on Saturday, winning the first game 5-2 before coming from behind to win the second game 3-2.

11th ranked Wallace State is now 19-4 (4-0 ACCC), while Gadsden State is now 11-15 (0-4 ACCC) after the four-game series.

G1: Wallace State 5, Gadsden State 2

In game one, Gadsden State struck first with a run in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead. Wallace State responded with three in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. The Cardinals added a run in the top of the sixth, but the Lions answered with two more in the bottom of the inning for a 5-2 lead.

The top of the lineup led Wallace, totaling five runs and four hits. Brandy Phillips finished with a hit, two RBI and two runs scored, while Tenaja Thomas, Ashlyn Burns and Charli Kyser each had a hit and a run scored. Brooklyn Sertell, Blakelyn Austin and Leah Graves each had an RBI.

Phillips pitched a complete game to earn the win. She allowed two runs on four hits while striking out seven in seven innings.

G2: Wallace State 3, Gadsden State 2

Runs were hard to come by in the second game of the doubleheader. The Lions scored first in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. The Cardinals pushed across two runs in the top of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead.

Gadsden State maintained their lead until the bottom of the seventh when Wallace State scored two runs to get the 3-2 victory.

Kyser led the Lions with two hits, including a triple, and two RBI. Thomas, Burns, Phillips, Sertell, Austin, Graves and Reese Decker each had a hit. Phillips added an RBI, while Thomas scored two runs and Burns scored one.

Ava Smith got the win after pitching a complete game. She allowed two runs on five hits while striking out two in seven innings

Wallace State will travel to Gallatin, Tenn., for a doubleheader with #21 Vol State on Tuesday before returning home to start a four-game conference series with Northeast Alabama (11-3, 2-0) on Thursday.