Wallace State Softball Races Past Navarro to Advance in the NJCAA National Tournament

The 11th-seed Wallace State Lions cruised to a 10-1 win over 20th-seed Navarro to remain alive in the NJCAA National Softball Tournament in Yuma, AZ. The Lions will play on Thursday morning against the 16th-seed McCook.

Wallace State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second when Leah Graves homered to drive home Brooklyn Sertell and Blakelyn Austin, who both singled prior to Graves' coming to the plate.

Navarro homered in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Lions’ lead to 3-1.

Sertell started the top of the sixth with a home run to center field to extend the lead to 4-1. Lexie Kelly’s single with two outs drove home Graves, who reached on a three-base error, to push the score to 5-1.

Wallace State scored five runs in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 10-1 before Navarro could record an out. After Tanayja Thomas walked to start the inning, Brandy Phillips singled to drive Thomas home. Charli Kyser then singled to plate Phillips. After Sertell walked, Austin doubled to drive home Kyser. Graves reached on an error that allowed Sertell to score. Charley Walker’s groundout led to Austin scoring the fifth run of the inning.

Sertell finished 3-for-3 with a home run, three runs scored, and an RBI. Austin had two hits, including a double, two runs scored, and an RBI, while Thomas added two hits and a run scored. Graved homered, had three RBIS and two runs scored. Phillips, Kyser, and Kelly each had a hit and an RBI. Phillips and Kyser also scored a run.

Phillips got the start and pitched five innings to get the win. She allowed one run on three hits while striking out three. Ava Smith pitched the final two innings, allowing no runs on two hits.