Bucs Run-Rule Highlanders; Sweep Series

TUSCALOOSA - The No. 12 ranked Shelton State baseball team scored seven runs in the second inning and cruised to a 13-3 run-rule win over Gordon State. 

Shelton State (6-1) completed the three-game sweep of the Highlanders with Saturday's win. The Bucs won 8-6 and 6-2 on Friday. 

The Bucs had 12 hits, eight walks and five hit batters in the win. All 13 position players reached base and eight of the nine starters scored a run.

Freshman third baseman Slade Sullivan reached base in all five plate appearances to pace the offense. He had three hits, two runs scored, two RBIs and two walks. 

Freshman first baseman James Graphos added two hits and three RBIs. He finished with four hits and six RBIs in the series.

Sophomore centerfielder Mason Steele had two hits and scored two runs. 

Sophomore DH Pierce Dutton, sophomore shortstop Paxton Ponder and sophomore catcher Skyler Smith all scored two runs.

Trailing 3-0, the Bucs exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the second inning to take control of the game.

The Bucs sent 13 batters to the plate and recorded five hits and five walks. 

Steele started the rally with a bunt single. Sophomore second baseman Brexton Taft walked and sophomore Hayes Alford added a bunt single to load the bases.

Sullivan plated the first run with an RBI single then Ponder, Smith and Dutton all drew bases loaded walks to give the Bucs a 4-3 lead. 

Shirley followed with an RBI single and Graphos added a two-run single to make it 7-0. 

Steele, the 10th batter of the inning, walk to load the bases with no outs. After a pair of strikeouts, Sullivan was credited with a base hit when his ground ball hit Steele to end the inning. 

The Bucs added four more runs in the third inning to stretch the lead to 11-3. Ponder walked and later scored on an error. Graphos added an RBI single, Alford was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Sullivan had a bases loaded walk. 

Taft walked with the bases loaded in the fourth to make it 12-3. Browning had an RBI single in the fifth to close the scoring at 13-3.

Gordon State (5-6) scored three unearned runs in the second inning to take a 3-0 lead. 

Freshman Jackson Henderson (2-0), making his first career start, earned the win. 

Freshman John Robicheaux and sophomore John Michael Pickens combined for four scoreless innings and four strikeouts out of the pen. 

Brody Gordon (0-2) was charged with the loss. He allowed seven runs in one inning. 

Shelton State returns to the diamond on Tuesday, Feb. 18 against Wallace State Selma at 4 p.m.