Shelton State Sweeps Marion to Open Season

TUSCALOOSA - The No. 12 ranked Shelton State baseball team concluded  its dominant weekend with a double header sweep over Marion Military, winning 14-2 and 10-0 on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.

Shelton State (3-0) outscored Marion 33-2 in the three-game sweep. 

The Bucs scored nine runs in the fifth inning to put game one out of reach. 

Sophomore second baseman Brexton Taft, making his first career start, had two hits and three RBIs in the inning, including his first career home run. Sophomore shortstop Landen Ingram snacked a three-run double and sophomore third baseman Brady Waugh delivered a two-run single. Freshman catcher Grant Browning added his first career hit and RBI with an RBI double. 

The Bucs got a combined two-hit shutout from four freshmen in the 10-0 win to complete the sweep. 

Konner Keplinger, Jackson Henderson, Gunner Dodd and Kenneth Diddell no-hit the Tigers for 5 2/3 innings. The quartet had eight strikeouts and no walks. 

Shelton State used 13 pitchers, including nine freshman, in the series. The Bucs allowed only two runs (0.78 ERA) and seven hits (.084) and added 25 strikeouts. 

The Bucs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning in game one. Sophomore center fielder Pierce Dutton doubled to center field and later scored on Henderson's sacrifice fly.

Shelton State scored twice in the fourth to make 3-0. Dutton scored on a wild pitch and sophomore Mason Steele added a sacrifice fly. 

The Bucs scored nine runs on six hits in the fifth inning to put the game out of reach. 

Marion (4-7) scored both its runs in the sixth inning with two singles and two walks. 

Shelton State scored the final two runs in the sixth on an RBI double by sophomore Hayes Alford and RBI single by third baseman Slade Sullivan.

Steele and a trio of freshmen Will Harrison, Josh Robicheaux and Jack Sanderson all pitched in game one. 

Harrison (1-0) was credited with the win after throwing two scoreless innings and striking out five. 

The Bucs scored in four straight innings to take the nightcap 10-0.

Shelton State jumped on the Tigers with a five-run second inning. Dutton delivered a two-run single and Steele followed with an RBI single. Sophomore right fielder Trenton Shirley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 4-0. Sophomore first baseman Tripp Gann capped the inning with a sacrifice fly.

The Bucs scored three more runs in the third inning on a two-run double by Alford and RBI single by Gann.

Shelton State scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to make 10-0. Robicheaux had an RBI single in the fifth and Sullivan scored on an error in the sixth. 

Henderson (1-0) was credited with the win after throwing two shutout innings with two strikeouts. 

Shelton State returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 13 at East Central Community College. The Bucs will host Gordon State next weekend in Tuscaloosa.

Notes:

Shelton State used 29 players in the series, including 16 position players and 13 pitchers.

Shelton State had 14 players make their debut for the Bucs this weekend. 

Waugh reached base in all seven plate appearances in the series. He had five walks, one hit by pitch and one hit. He delivered a 2-run single in the nine-run fifth inning in game one on Saturday.

Dutton was 6-for-11 (.545) with six runs scored, three RBIs and three stolen bases. 

Graphos was 3-for-6 with two runs, one double and one RBI.

Ingram was 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs in the series. 

Taft had two hits and three RBIs in the Bucs nine-run fifth inning in game one. He led off the inning with first career home run. 

Graphos, Sullivan, Taft, Browning and Robicheaux all recorded their first career hit for the Bucs.