Bucs Late Rally Falls Short

Bucs Late Rally Falls Short

DECATUR, Miss. – Shelton State's late inning rally fell one run short in a 4-3 loss to East Central Community College at Clark-Gay Complex on Thursday.

No. 12 ranked Shelton State (3-1) trailed 4-0 and scored twice in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 4-2.

Sophomore right fielder Mason Steele and freshman first baseman James Graphos drew back-to-back one out walks to put two runners on base. Freshman DH Jackson Henderson lined a single to center field to move runners up one base. ECCC centerfielder Pablo Roque misplayed the ball and allowed all runners to move up one base, with Steele scoring on the play. Sophomore third baseman Brady Waugh delivered a sac fly that scored Graphos to make a 4-2 game.

The Bucs had their best chance to take the lead in the eighth inning but managed only one run before leaving the bases loaded. Graphos and Henderson drew back-to-back two-out walks to load the bases and sophomore Trenton Shirley drew a bases loaded walk to bring in Graphos to make the score 4-3.

ECCC closer Chris Billingsley came on to record a strikeout to end the threat. The Bucs drew a two-walk against Billingsley in the ninth inning, but the game ended with a groundout.

The Warriors starter Marbin Lezcano worked 5 1/3 innings for the win. He allowed one run and one hit with seven strikeouts and two walks.

No. 2 ranked East Central (4-0) scored all four runs in the first 13 batters of the game.  The Warriors scored three times in the first inning and one run in the second inning, taking advantage of two walks and three hit batters.

Sophomore JD Wilkins (1-1) was charged with four runs in 1 2/3 innings and took the loss.

Freshman Eli Driskell, sophomore Bryant Akridge and sophomore John Michael Pickens combined for 6 1/3 scoreless innings in relief and struck out 11 batters. Driskell had three scoreless frames with five strikeouts. Akridge, who stranded the bases loaded in the fifth, tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Pickens retired both batters he faced, with one strikeout.

Shelton State had three hits and eight walks in the game. Steele had one hit and two walks and scored one run scored. Graphos had one hit, one walk and one run scored. Henderson had one hit. Waugh and Shirley both had one RBI.

Shelton State will host Gordon State in a three-game series this weekend in Tuscaloosa. The teams will play a double header on Friday, Feb. 14 beginning at 3 p.m. The series finale is Saturday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m.