Wallace State Falls in ACCC Championship Game, Finishes Season as Runner-Up

ALABASTER — Wallace State's softball season came to a close Saturday afternoon with a 4-2 loss to Northeast Alabama in eight innings in the ACCC Conference Championship game at Veterans Park.

The Lady Lions advanced to the title game earlier in the day with an 8-4 victory over Coastal Alabama-South in the losers bracket final.

Following the championship game, Wallace State's Kaelyn Jones, Leah Graves and Ava Smith were named to the ACCC All-Tournament Team.

Northeast Alabama 4, Wallace State 2 (8 innings)

In the championship game, Wallace State took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Blakelyn Austin hit a solo home run to left field.

Northeast Alabama answered in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game before taking a 2-1 lead in the third inning on an RBI double by Francesca Lumpp.

The Lady Lions tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning when Kenley Vaughn delivered an RBI single to center field following a six-pitch at-bat.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the eighth inning when Lumpp hit a two-run walk-off home run to left field to secure the conference championship for Northeast Alabama.

Austin finished 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, while Vaughn went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Brooklynn Sertell and Ashlyn Burns each added a hit for Wallace State.

Ava Smith pitched all seven innings for Wallace State, allowing four runs on 10 hits while walking one.

Wallace State 8, Coastal Alabama-South 4

Earlier Saturday, the Lady Lions earned their spot in the championship game with an 8-4 win over Coastal Alabama-South.

Wallace State scored four runs in the top of the first inning. Leah Graves singled down the left field line to score two runs before Kenley Vaughn doubled down the left field line to bring home two more runs.

The Lady Lions added another run in the second inning when Charli Kyser singled to right field to make it 5-1.

Coastal Alabama-South cut into the lead with runs in the third and fifth innings, but Wallace State answered with two runs in the fourth inning and another in the seventh.

Kaelyn Jones led Wallace State offensively with three hits in five at-bats. Kyser, Vaughn, Blakelyn Austin and Graves each drove in two runs.

Brooklynn Sertell scored three runs and drew five walks as Wallace State finished with eight walks and 13 hits.

Madeline Howard started in the circle, allowing three runs over 2.1 innings. Ava Smith earned the win in relief, pitching 4.2 innings while allowing one run on three hits and striking out four.

Wallace State finished the game without committing an error and turned two double plays.