Published: May 17, 2008 12:04 am            

Wallace State to play for national title

PLANT CITY, Fla. — Wallace State will be the first Alabama community college to have a softball team play for a national championship when they take the field today.

The Lady Lions defeated Spartanburg Methodist College (S.C.) 6-4 in the winner’s bracket semi finals at 1 p.m. Friday in the NJCAA Division I Softball Tournament. They defeated Chattanooga State 4-3 in the winner’s bracket finals at 8 p.m. on Friday. They are now the only undefeated team left in the 16-team, 30-game national tournament.

“We have one more game to reach our goal,” said Wallace State coach Jayne Clem. “I think this is a team of destiny.”

The 11 sophomores on the team made history last year when they finished seventh in the national tournament. No other Alabama team had ever won a game at this level.

“We watched the finals last year, and this year’s sophomores made up their minds then that they did not want to be sitting in the stands for the next championship game,” Clem said.

Today, the Lady Lions will face the winner of a game against Chattanooga State and either Santa Fe or San Jacinto, which was played late Friday night.



Wallace State 6, Spartanburg 4

A two run-homer by Rachel Baucom in the seventh inning won the game for Wallace. That was Baucom’s second home run of the tournament. When asked if she had tried to hit it out of the stadium, Baucom said, “It was all Jesus.” She was 1-for-4 against Spartanburg. She also scored earlier in the game.

Dandi Ammons went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run. Jena Franks doubled and drove in two runs in four times at bat. Caitlyn Williams went 1-for-2. Brooke Allgood also batted 1-for-2 and scored a run. Amanda Rogers was 1-for-4. Hannah Strength went 1-for-4.

Ashley Smith doubled in her only official at-bat. She drew three bases on balls and scored twice. Sallie Van Kirk came off the bench to drive in the run that tied the game on a sacrifice.

Jennifer Sexton gave up four runs on seven hits and struck out four batters in three innings of work. Holli Hill earned the win in the final four innings. She allowed one hit and struck out three batters.



Wallace State 4, Chattanooga State 3

The Lady Lions came from behind to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for the win. Strength delivered the game winning two-run double. She was 2-for-4 against Chattanooga.

Franks doubled and singled in three times at bat. Baucom had the RBI on a sacrifice fly to score Franks. Allgood singled, stole a base and scored. Rogers connected for an RBI double and scored a run. King singled and scored. Sallie Beth Burch and Ammons had hits.

Sexton earned the complete game win. She gave up eight hits, struck out six, and walked one in seven innings of work.

The championship game is 2 p.m. today.

Wallace State’s record is now 67-8.

        

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