McKenzie, Doran propel Wallace State softball to doubleheader sweep over Gadsden State

HANCEVILLE – Wallace State freshman Andrea McKenzie continued to feast on Gadsden State pitching Thursday afternoon, finishing with a solo homer, a three-run triple and five RBIs as the Lady Lions prevailed 7-1 in the opener of their conference doubleheader at Bobby McCracken Stadium.
Wallace State, which has won 14 of 15 games, completed the doubleheader sweep with a 10-7 victory in the nightcap, getting a tie-breaking two-run homer from Misty Doran in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Until this week, Wallace State has been on the road the entire season. After sweeping a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday against Motlow State, the Lady Lions, the defending NJCAA Division I national champions, made sure Gadsden State wasn’t going to ruin their first Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) games at home.
McKenzie did most of the damage in the opener. She gave Wallace State (32-18, 7-1 ACCC) an early 1-0 lead in the second with a solo homer—her fifth of the season. McKenzie, a Panama City, Fla. native, added a sacrifice fly in the third and broke the game open in the fifth with a three-run triple.
In last week’s conference opener at Gadsden State, McKenzie collected seven RBIs in a doubleheader.
“Andrea provides a lot of protection in the middle of the lineup for Madeline Lee and Kori Benson and has helped solidify our offense. She seems to have a field day against Gadsden State, so she needs to pretend they’re always our opponent,” joked Wallace State coach Jayne Clem. “Andrea has really stepped up this season and done everything we have asked of her.”
Mackenzie Hill finished 2-for-4 with a double for the Lady Lions, Sabrina Russell contributed an RBI double, Annie Holcomb had an RBI single, Madeline Lee had a double and a run scored, Sarah Jordan scored a pair of runs, Kori Benson walked twice and scored a run and Rachel Ragland singled and scored a run.
Amanda Medders (13-4) tossed a complete game for Wallace State, scattering five hits and allowing one run. She struck out six and walked one.
Wallace State continues league play Saturday with a doubleheader at Calhoun beginning at 1 p.m.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit wallacestate.edu.