Photo: Wallace State freshman Maison Goodwin is congratulated by his teammates after his walk-off RBI against Wabash Valley in the series opener.
HANCEVILLE – Wallace State’s softball team wrapped up a nine-game swing through Texas on Monday, winning three of their final four games.
The Lady Lions (8-15) went 3-3 in the San Jacinto (Texas) College Tournament in Houston last Saturday and Sunday and finished the trip with a 4-2 victory over Lamar State in extra innings on Monday. They opened the Texas trip with a pair of losses at Navarro College on Feb. 12.
Freshman Taylor Beshears, who leads the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) in homers (4) and RBIs (30), went 12 for 23 during the road trip with a homer, four doubles and 12 RBIs. She also swiped seven bags.
In a 17-4 victory over San Jacinto, Beshears went 4 for 5 with a homer and career-high seven RBIs.
Shelby Brown and Olivia Royal each had strong trips for Wallace State. Brown, a sophomore from Hueytown, finished with three homers and nine RBIs, while Royal racked up nine hits, including a 5 for 5 performance with a pair of homers, four RBIs and five runs scored against San Jacinto.
Sophomore Leisha Yamauchi cranked a pair of homers and collected eight RBIs during the nine-game stretch, Katie Parr had a homer and five RBIs and freshman Amber Hammonds had six hits, including a double, and four stolen bases.
Wallace State begins play Friday at the Sun Chief Classic at Gulf Shores. The Lady Lions will play five games in the two-day tournament.
Wallace State men’s golf
Men’s golf sophomore Sylas Elliott finished as an All-Tournament selection as Wallace State finished third at the Faulkner State Spring Invitational in Fairhope over the weekend.
Elliott tied for fifth with Spring Hill College’s Sheldon Statkewicz, carding a 7-over par 151. Elliott, a 2nd-team NJCAA All-American as a freshman for Wallace State, opened the tournament with a 4-over 76 and shot a 75 in the second round.
Wallace State sophomore Walker Gordon finished tied for eighth overall with a 9-over 153, shooting a first-round best 71.
Eli Marty finished with a 155 (76-79) and Chip Willoughby a 159.
Wallace State had a 617 as a group, finishing behind Spring Hill and Mississippi Gulf Coast. Spring Hill prevailed with a 17-over 593.
During the first week of February, the Lions opened the spring season at the Titan Winter Invitational in Melbourne, Florida, earning fifth place.
Wallace State’s next tournament is at Albany, Georgia on Feb. 28-March 1.
Wallace State baseball
Wallace State’s baseball team won the first game of its weekend series against Wabash Valley College.
Maison Goodwin’s fielder’s choice drove in Gerrio Rahming with one out in the bottom of the 11th, sending the Lions to a 3-2 walk-off victory.
Rahming led off the 11th with a bunt single, stole second and advanced to third on a Wabash Valley wild pitch. The freshman from the Bahamas raced home on Goodwin’s grounder, beating the throw from Wabash Valley’s first baseman.
Wallace State (4-5) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning before Wabash Valley tied the game with a two-run double in the sixth.
Wallace State’s Blake Schilleci (1-0) was the winning pitcher in relief, recording the final out in the top of the 11th. He relieved Will Eiland, who tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Garrett Suchey started for the Lions.
Wabash Valley won the final three games of the series.
Wallace State hits the road Friday for the first time in 2016. The Lions will play in a weekend tournament at East Central Mississippi.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit http://athletics.wallacestate.edu/.
