Graves homers, Lady Lions fall in ACCC winners bracket final

ALABASTER — Wallace State's softball team dropped a 2-1 decision to Northeast Alabama in the winners bracket final of the ACCC Championship on Friday at Veterans Park.

The Lady Lions (46-11) managed just four hits in the contest, with Leah Graves providing the lone run on a solo home run in the top of the third inning. The blast gave Wallace State a 1-0 lead before Northeast Alabama answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Marti McCluskey tied the game with a solo home run to left field, and the Mustangs added the eventual game-winning run later in the inning on an RBI single by Perkins.

Ava Smith turned in another strong outing in the circle for Wallace State despite taking the loss. Smith pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out one and walking two.

Leah Graves finished 1-for-3 with the home run and RBI, while Kaelyn Jones, Tenayia Thomas and Blakelyn Austin each added a hit. Austin also doubled for the Lady Lions.

Wallace State's defense committed just one error in the game.

Northeast Alabama pitcher Addie Edwards earned the win after holding Wallace State to one run on four hits over seven innings. She struck out three and walked two.

The loss drops Wallace State into the losers bracket, where the Lady Lions will face Coastal Alabama-South on Saturday at 12 p.m. at Veterans Park. Wallace State swept the Lady Coyotes in a regular-season doubleheader last weekend.