Lady Bucs Go 2-2 In JUCO Extravaganza

Oxford, AL- The Shelton State softball team went 3-1 on the weekend at the JUCO Extravaganza Showcase. The Lady Bucs went 2-0 on day 1 taking down Pensacola State 8-6 and Vol State 4-3 on a walk-off. Day 2 saw the Bucs drop a heartbreaker to Wallace-Dothan, 4-3 and lose game 4 to nationally ranked Chattanooga State 5-1.  

Game 1

The Lady Bucs shot out to a big lead and held on late to take down Pensacola State. A 5 hit (Layla Bradshaw, Lauren Coker, Aspen Gerald, Willeshia Lang, and Jamie Hocutt) 1^st inning produced 3 runs for the Lady Bucs. Keeping their foot on the gas, the Lady Bucs added 5 more in the 2^nd as a Layla Bradshaw sacrifice fly, Aspen Gerald double, and Chole Mitchell 3-run home run stretched the lead to 8-0. The Lady Bucs bats would then go quiet only producing 3 hits over the next 5 innings. Over that time, the Pirates were able to claw back into the game as they brought the winning run to the plate in the 7^th inning before Kaitlyn Powell was able to close the door.

Aspen Gerald went 4-5, adding 2 RBI's and 2 runs scored. Lauren Coker added 2 walks to go along with a double. Chloe Mitchell's home run was the difference in the game. Victoria Hagemann went 4 and 2/3's allowing 0 earned runs on 4 hits. Kaitlyn Powell finished the game, allowing 3 runs (unearned) on 5 hits. The Lady Bucs committed 5 errors in the game, accounting for all 6 Pensacola runs.

Game 2

Willeshia Lang was the hero in game 2 as she drove in Victoria Hagemann in the bottom of the 8^th inning to secure the walk-off win for the Lady Bucs over Volunteer State. Vol State struck first as they pieced together 3 hits and Lady Buc error to push across 1 run in the 1^st. The Lady Bucs would take the lead on a Chloe Mitchell base hit and Vol State error in the 3^rd. It did not take Vol State lonf to answer as they would post 2 runs in the 4^th to tie the game at 3. Mackenzie Harper went the first 4 innings giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits while walking 5. Neither team could get anything going thanks to stellar pitching. Lexi Darnell would keep Vol State at bay over the last 4 innings only giving up 5 hits. Darnell got 3 consecutive ground outs in 8^th to give the Lady Bucs the opportunity to walk it off. Chloe Mitchell moved Hagemann to 3^rd before Willeshia Lang was able to drive home the winning run.

Alana Spann went 2-4 in the game with a run scored while Willeshia Lang also went 2-4 with 2 RBI.

Game 3

The Lady Bucs dropped a heartbreaker in game 3 as they had Wallace-Dothan down to their last strike before the Lady Governors took the lead. The game followed much of the same script of game 2 as the Lady Bucs added 2 runs on a couple hits in the 2^nd inning before Wallace tied the game in the 3^rd. The Lady Bucs would take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 3^rd on a Natalie Liner base hit, the lead would hold until the top of the 7^th with 2 outs and 2 strikes. A double by the Lady Govs would give them a 4-3 advantage and the Lady Bucs were unable to score in bottom half despite bringing the winning run to the plate.

Chloe Mitchell and Natalie Liner both went 2-4, scoring a run a piece while Liner also had an RBI. Layla Bradshaw and Alana Spann also batted in a run for the Lady Bucs. Victoria Hagemann went the distance in the circle allowing 4 runs on 8 hits and striking out 5.

Game 4

#15 Chattanooga State struck early and held firm throughout in a 5-1 defeat of the Lady Bucs. Scoring all 5 runs in the first 3 innings while also adding 9 of their 11 hits in the first 3 frames. Lauren Coker went 2-3 in the game driving in the lone Buccaneer run for the game. Lexi Darnell threw 5 innings in relief of Mackenzie Harper only allowing 4 hits and no earned runs.