Lions stay alive with 7-2 win over Chattahoochee Valley after narrow loss to Southern Union

Lions stay alive with 7-2 win over Chattahoochee Valley after narrow loss to Southern Union

OXFORD, Ala — Wallace State bounced back from a one-run loss in the ACCC Championship with a 7-2 win over Chattahoochee Valley on Friday at Choccolocco Park to stay alive in the losers bracket.

The Lions dropped into the elimination side of the bracket after falling 13-12 to Southern Union earlier in the day, but responded behind a complete-game effort from Drew Smith.

Smith allowed two early runs against Chattahoochee Valley, but kept Wallace State within striking distance throughout the game. Chattahoochee Valley led 2-1 entering the seventh inning before the Lions broke through with six runs to take control.

Smith worked out of trouble later in the game, escaping a couple of situations with two runners on base, before closing the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning to secure the win.

Complete offensive stats from the Chattahoochee Valley game were unavailable.

Earlier in the day, Wallace State came up just short in a 13-12 loss to Southern Union. The Lions finished with 12 runs on 12 hits, while Southern Union scored 13 runs on 16 hits.

Wallace State trailed 8-4 after four innings before scoring three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to move in front. Southern Union answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth and later scored the deciding run in the ninth.

Cooper Clemmons led the Lions offensively in the loss, going 3-for-5 with a home run, a triple, two runs scored and three RBIs. Carter Cumming also homered, finishing 1-for-2 with three runs scored, two RBIs and two walks.

Jackson Rickett went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Aiden Boileau finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk. Israel Navarro added two hits and scored three runs. Carson Burdette drove in two runs, and Connor Elmore added a double.

On the mound, Baylen Tuten started for Wallace State and allowed seven runs on six hits over 2 1/3 innings. Jacob James worked 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out three. Eli Cannon threw 2 2/3 innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit.

Wallace State improved to 33-25 with the win over Chattahoochee Valley and will face Snead State in another losers bracket game at 2 p.m. at Choccolocco Park.