Softball earns Runner-Up at Gulf Coast Classic

GULF SHORES, Ala. -- Wetumpka Softball earned a runnner-up finish at the Gulf Coast Classic over spring break, going 7-2 over the three day tournament.

The tournament began on Monday, March 23 with the Indians set to face off against Westside High School from Arkansas, and the 7A Hoover Bucs.

In game one against Westside, Abigal Adams earned the start, and pitched all six innings. She allowed just one hit and no runs while striking out two. 

Sophie Arant hit her 8th home run of the season, a two run inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the third, and added a sac fly RBI in the bottom of the first. Taylor Carlsisle went a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with a triple and drew a walk in the Indians 5-0 win over the Westside Warriors.

Later that day, the Indians played the first of their two match ups against the Hoover Bucs in a 7-2 loss. Bailey Carlisle drew a walk and went 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI triple.

On Tuesday, March 24, the Indians played another pair of games. 

The first came against Little Rock Central that saw the Indians win 17-0 and throw a combined no-hitter in the 4 inning game. Lalah Culpepper pitched the first two innings, striking out three. Arant came in relief to pitch the final two innings, striking out one. 

Culpepper led the Indians at the dish, going 2-3 and drawing a walk. Both of her hits came with extra bases, a double in the bottom of the first and a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth. Lexi Smith and Sophie Arant eached picked up 3 RBI's, with Arant recording two doubles. 

Following the blowout, the Black & Gold faced off against in-state Fayetteville Wolves, winning again by an impressive margin, 21-6. Culpepper's bat remained hot, as she went 2-for-2 with two walks and 5 RBI's. Future Grambling State Tiger Alyssa Brown tacked on another 5 RBI's with a perfect 3-for-3 showing that included two triples. Arantagain proved effective at the plate, tallying 3 total bases and 4 RBI's.

After the first two days of the tournament, the Indians moved to bracket play on Wednesday, March 24 that saw them play four games.

Wetumpka was set to play Rogers Heritage (AR) in the first round, but advanced after Rogers Heritage forfieted. 

At 12:00 PM, the Indians played Lawrence County in the second round, winning a low scoring 3-1 contest.

Culpepper pitched all five innings, picking up her 12th win of the season, allowing just three hits and striking out three. 

The Indians drew 5 walks as a team, with Brown accounting for two of those. Taylor Carlisle drove in one run to start off the game in the first inning. The Indians tacked on two more in the top of the third, with Autymn Hollon knocking Smith home with a single, who then came around to score on an error. 

In the quarterfinals, the Indians took on the Springville Tigers in a 6-3 win. Smith went 2-for-3 at the plate, and scored two of Wetumpka's runs. Culpepper went 1-for-2 with an RBI single and sacrifice fly. Right fielder Kyla Richardson went 2-for-2, adding an RBI and scoring a run.

The semifinals saw Wetumpka square off against #2 ranked Hartselle in a back-and-forth 8-6 victory over the tigers. Hartselle started off scoring two in the bottom of the first, and added another to make it a 3-0 lead heading into the top of the third. The Indians took the lead with a five-run inning in the top of the third. Richardson, Smith, and Culpepper all singled to begin the inning, loading the bases for Sophie Arant. Arant singled and drove in two runs, advancing to second on the throw. Bailey Carlisle kept the hitting streak going, singling and plating another run. She stole second base before her and Arant came across to score on a two RBI double from Taylor Carlisle. 

Hartselle took the lead back in the bottom of third, with Wetumpka trailing 6-5 heading into the fourth frame. Culpepper gave the Indians the lead right back with a two RBI double that scored Richardson and Smith. Culpepper came across to score on a sac fly from Bailey Carlisle. 

The Indians earned a rematch against Hoover for the Gulf Coast Classic Championship, but fell short in a 7-1 loss. Brown collected the only RBI of the day on a single in the top of the second. Bailey Carlisle and Lexi Smith each picked up a hit in the game.

Softball will be back in action on Tuesday, March 31 as they host the Pike Road Patriots at home.