Sertell Powers Lions to Thursday Sweep of Shelton State, Wallace State Wins 3-0 and 1-0
HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Brooklynn Sertell homered twice and drove in three runs across two games as the Wallace State Lions swept Shelton State in a home conference doubleheader Thursday afternoon, winning 3-0 and 1-0. The twin shutouts pushed Wallace State's ACCC record to 4-0 heading into the weekend and showcased a pitching staff that has become one of the most dominant in junior college softball.
GAME 1: Wallace State 3, Shelton State 0
Madeline Howard was untouchable. The right-hander worked all seven innings, allowing seven hits but surrendering zero runs while striking out five and walking two. Howard navigated traffic repeatedly, relying on her defense — which committed no errors behind her — and her own composure to post the complete-game shutout.
Wallace State got on the board in the bottom of the first when Sertell reached on a fielder's choice to score one run, and the Lions added an insurance run in the fifth when Sertell launched a solo home run to left field that stretched the lead to 2-0. An Allyssa Hunt sacrifice fly in the sixth pushed the final margin to three.
Sertell finished 1-for-2 with two RBI and a home run, leading four total bases and anchoring the middle of the order. Kaelyn Jones, Charli Kyser, Ashlyn Burns, and Sydney Gurley each contributed a hit, and the Lions swiped four bases — Thomas, Burns, Sertell, and Kenley Vaughn each recording a stolen base — to keep constant pressure on the Shelton State defense.
GAME 2: Wallace State 1, Shelton State 0
The nightcap was as tense as softball gets — a scoreless duel through six innings that came down to one swing.
Taylor Stalling was electric from the first pitch, working all seven innings while allowing just two hits, walking one, and striking out six. It was a masterful performance against a Shelton State lineup that could not solve her all afternoon.
The game remained knotted at zero entering the bottom of the seventh. With the pressure of a walk-off on her shoulders, Sertell stepped into the box and delivered — launching a solo home run to left field to end the game and complete the sweep. It was her second home run of the day and the defining moment of the doubleheader.
Vaughn, Sertell, and Tenayja Thomas each collected a hit in the nightcap, with Sertell going 1-for-3 with the lone RBI. Wallace State committed one error but made it irrelevant behind Stalling's dominant effort in the circle.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Brooklynn Sertell (G1 & G2): 2 HR, 3 RBI, 8 total bases across both games
- Madeline Howard (G1): 7.0 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K (W)
- Taylor Stalling (G2): 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K (W)
- Kaelyn Jones (G1): 1-for-3, 1 run scored
- Ashlyn Burns (G1): 1-for-2, 2B