Wallace State’s Amber Hammonds acknowledges her teammates after hitting a three-run homer in their second game against Calhoun on Thursday.
HANCEVILLE – Amber Hammonds finished a combined 6-for-6 with two homers and seven RBIs, and Wallace State’s softball team swept a doubleheader from Calhoun at Bobby McCracken Stadium on Thursday, winning 8-0 and 6-1.
Hammonds, a sophomore from Hewitt-Trussville, went 3-for-3 in the opener with a homer and three RBIs and added a three-run shot in the finale as the Lions (28-13, 13-1 Alabama Community College Conference) maintained the top spot in the North Division. Wallace State has eight conference games remaining this season.
“We’ve got to make a strong push here at the end. We went to Southern Union last week and split, and I hope that was an eye opener for us that we can’t coast or put it on cruise control because every team is going to give us their best shot. We are fortunate enough to have a name across our chest that means something, so we can expect to get everyone’s best lick every time we go out there,” said first-year Wallace State coach A.J. Daugherty. “I’m very proud we got this sweep. We are talented enough that when we take care of us we have a chance to win every ballgame we play.”
Hammonds’ two bombs on Thursday gave her the team lead in home runs with 11, which is also good for second in the conference.
Wallace State shut out the Lady Warhawks in the opener, using a six-run fourth inning to provide more than enough of a cushion for sophomore ace Brittany Ledbetter.
Along with Hammonds’ offensive output, Karra Elam finished 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, Taylor Beshears had a pair of singles and scored three times and Taylor Stalkner singled and scored. Charlee West added an RBI single and Taylor Robertson scored a run.
Ledbetter moved to 13-6 on the season with a two-hit shutout, lowering her ERA to 1.27. She struck out five Calhoun batters.
Wallace State put together a pair of three-run innings in the second game. The Lions plated three runs in the first and Hammonds’ second homer of the day added three more runs in the fifth.
Hammonds finished with four RBIs.
Beshears went 2-for-4 with a run scored, Elam had an RBI single and Jodie Farnetti contributed a single.
Madison Grant (7-3) was the winning pitcher for Wallace State after scattering a run on seven hits.
Sophomore Savannah Bolton pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Wallace State, which has won 19 of its last 23 games.
For Wallace State this season, Beshears (.413) and West (.402) are both hitting over .400. Hammonds sports a .385 average and Elam a .383 mark.
Hammonds leads the club with 11 homers, Beshears has 10 and West has eight.
Wallace State travels to Snead State on Saturday for another conference doubleheader.
Wallace State women’s golf
Wallace State’s women’s golf team tuned up for the postseason by finishing fifth this week at the Redhawk Spring Classic in Lewisburg, Tenn.
Wallace State’s Annalee Stephens put together the best rounds for the team, finishing tied for sixth individually with a 16-over par 160 (80-80).
Taylor Ruehl carded a 174 for the Lions, while Abbi Yeager shot a 177.
Dalys Mullican and Ashley McCormick rounded out the field for Wallace State.
Wallace State hosts the Alabama Community College Conference/Region 22 tournament at Cross Creek Golf Course on April 17-18.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit www.athletics.wallacestate.edu.
