Wallace State baseball splits doubleheader with Volunteer State

HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Wallace State’s baseball team split a doubleheader with Volunteer State in a pair of seven-inning games at James C. Bailey Stadium on Saturday. The Lions (3-1) prevailed 7-5 in the opener before dropping their first game on the young season, 3-1, in the nightcap.
Wallace State wasted no time cracking the scoreboard in Saturday’s opener, putting together a six-run first inning.
The Lions drew five walks in the first inning from Volunteer State starter Zack Malone and were patient all game by coaxing 12 walks against three Pioneers pitchers.
Wallace State cleanup hitter Lance Cleveland pushed across the first run with a bases-loaded walk. Ryan Goodman followed with Wallace State’s first hit of the game, an RBI single to make it 2-0. Sophomore Oliver Francis followed with a bases-loaded walk, and Brandt Holland, a Deshler grad, made it 5-0 with a two-run single. Billy Reed capped the first-inning explosion with a two-out, RBI single.
Wallace State scored its final run in the third, extending the lead to 7-1. Goodman led off with a walk and eventually came around to score on an errant throw as the Pioneers attempted a double play.
Wallace State freshman right-hander Jansen Acton (1-0) won his collegiate debut in the opener. He went four innings and allowed only two runs on one hit. He struck out three and walked two.
Brantley Ballenger pitched two innings out of the Wallace State bullpen in relief of Acton.
Wallace State lefty Ryan Masonia and Adam Berryhill combined to record the final three outs in relief of Acton. Masonia induced a pop up to shortstop for the first out in the seventh, and Adam Berryhill retired the final two Volunteer State hitters to record his first save.
Volunteer State scored single runs in the second and fifth innings, two in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Volunteer State won the second game of the doubleheader, breaking a 1-1 tie with two runs in the top of the seventh.
The rubber game of the series is Sunday at 1 p.m.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit wallacestate.edu.