Shelton State Wins Walk-Off Thriller To Open South District Championship Series

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Shelton State Community College third baseman Slade Sullivan came up big with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning Thursday night to lift the No. 10 Bucs a 3-2 victory over No. 2 LSU Eunice in game one of the South District Championship.

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The Buccaneers (47-11) now lead the best-of-three series and need just one more win to clinch the program's and head coach Bobby Sprowl's eighth trip to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Sullivan, a freshman from Mobile, capped a tense extra-inning battle set up by freshman second baseman James Graphos, who sparked the winning rally with a one-out single to left.

After Graphos advanced to second on a passed ball, pinch runner Brexton Taft — a Tuscaloosa native and former American Christian Academy standout — moved to third on a wild pitch following a strikeout.

Sophomore first baseman Tripp Gann then drew a walk to extend the inning and bring up Sullivan, who slaped a 1-0 pitch to left to bring home Taft.

Sophomore right-hander John Michael Pickens (6-1) — the reigning Alabama Community College Conference Relief Pitcher of the Year — earned the win in relief, retiring all 10 batters he faced while striking out three.

Shelton State's pitchers, led by two-way starter Mason Steele, combined for 14 strikeouts, including nine from sophomore Steele, who tied his career high over six innings of work.

Sullivan played a key role earlier in the game as well, scoring the tying run in the seventh after drawing a leadoff walk. He then advanced to third on two wild pitches and scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by sophomore shortstop Paxton Ponder.

LSU Eunice (52-4) briefly led 2-1 in the sixth inning after taking advantage of a Shelton State error.

Shelton State answered immediately, with Gordo native and starting catcher Lawson Neel and Ponder singling before sophomore left fielder Trenton Shirley, a former Tuscaloosa County High Schook standout, laced an RBI double to tie the game at 1-1.

Game two of the District Championship series is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.

Admission is $10 per person per day, payable by cash or card at the main entrance of the college.

Fans are asked to enter via Fire College Drive.

Food trucks will also be on site this weekend.

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