Bucs Split Conference Opening Twinbill

Bucs Split Conference Opening Twinbill

BOAZ - The No. 9 ranked Shelton State baseball team split its conference opening double header with Snead State on a cold and windy Thursday at Emmett Plunkett Field.

Shelton State (14-4, 1-1 ACCC) posted a 5-2 win in the opener.

Snead State (10-7, 1-1 ACCC) rebounded for a 6-2 win in game two.

The five runs in game one were the fewest scored by the Bucs in a win this season.

The Bucs scored single runs in each of the first four innings to build a 4-1 lead.

Sophomore center fielder Pierce Dutton gave the Bucs a 1-0 lead in the first inning. He reached on a one-out single  and moved to second when freshman second baseman James Graphos walked. Dutton and Graphos executed a double steal and Dutton scored on a subsequent error.

The Bucs made it 2-0 in the second when sophomore DH Hayes Alford was hit by a pitch and later scored on a ground out by sophomore catcher Lawson Neel. 

Snead State a run back in the bottom of the inning in McLane Mohun's two-out single.

Alford's RBI single scored Graphos to make it 3-1 in the third inning.

The Bucs went up 4-1 on Dutton's RBI single that scored sophomore Paxton Ponder in the fourth.

Shelton State extended the lead to 5-1 on a solo home run by freshman left fielder John Robicheaux in the sixth. It was his second of the year.

Bucs starter Eli Driskell (2-0) tossed five innings in his ACCC debut for the win. He allowed one run on two hits with five strikeouts and one walk. 

Snead starter Gabe Benton (1-2) took the loss after he allowed four runs and five hits in four innings. He also walked five.

Snead scored its final on a sac fly by Blaze Gerhart in the sixth.

Sophomore lefty John Michael Pickens got the final three outs for his second save. He also added two strikeouts.

The Bucs got off to a fast start in game two with two runs in the first inning.

Sophomore DH Mason Steele drew a lead off walk and Robicheaux followed with a double.

Steele scored on a passed ball and Robicheaux scored on a ground out by Graphos.

After the first inning, the Bucs only managed two more hits and were held hitless in the final four innings.

Snead State scored five runs on six hits  in the fourth inning to take the lead. 

Jack Ollis had an RBI single and Forrest Heacock gave the Parsons a 3-2 lead with a two-run single. 

Caleb Clealand smacked a two-run homer, his first of the year, to make it 5-2.

All five scored with two outs in the inning. 

Freshman Will Harrison (2-1) making first relief appearance, allowed all five runs.

Layton Sanford (4-1) pitched five innings for the win.

The Parsons made it 6-2 on a seventh inning sacrifice fly. 

The series concludes on Saturday, March 8 with a double header beginning at Noon in Tuscaloosa.