Wallace State Softball Run Rules McCook to stay alive in the NJCAA World Series
The 11th-seed Wallace State Lions (50-14) kept the offense going in a 10-2 win over 16th-seeded McCook to remain alive in the NJCAA World Series in Yuma, AZ. The Lions will play tonight at 8 pm on ESPN+ against the loser of top-seeded Florida Southwestern and 12th-seeded Chipola.
McCook took an early 1-0 lead with a single and a double in the top of the first inning.
Wallace State responded in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 lead. Brooklyn Sertell walked to start the inning and advanced to second following Blakelyn Austin's single to left field. Two batters later, Reese Decker singled to right, driving home Sertell and Austin for the lead.
The Lions kept the offense going in the third with three more runs to take a 5-1 lead. Brandy Phillips singled to give Wallace State a base runner. She then stole second and advanced to third on a McCook error that allowed Charli Kyser to reach. Phillips then scored on a double steal attempt that saw Kyser gunned down at second. After Sertell walked, Austin homered to left field, bringing home Sertell.
The Lions added another run in the bottom of the fourth when Tanayja Thomas grounded into a fielder's choice that plated Ashlyn Burns, who had walked earlier in the inning, for a 6-1 lead.
McCook homered in the top of the fifth to cut the Wallace State lead to 6-2.
The Lions put some more distance between themselves and McCook in the bottom of the fifth. Austin and Leah Graves both singled with one out. Decker then doubled to right field, bringing home Austin for a 7-2 lead. Two pitches later, Burns hit a three-run homer to left, extending the lead to 10-2 and ending the game.
Austin finished 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored to lead Wallace State at the plate. Decker added two hits, three RBIs and a run scored, while Burns had a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Thomas had the team's other RBI.
Madeline Howard picked up the win after pitching a five-inning complete game. She allowed two runs on four hits while striking out six.