WALLACE STATE SOFTBALL: Parr’s 4 HRs lead Lady Lions to latest sweep

Published 4:02 pm Friday, April 3, 2015

HANCEVILLE — Wallace State freshman third baseman Katie Parr had a monster performance at the plate Thursday, smacking four home runs and leading the Lady Lions to a road sweep of Southern Union in a battle of nationally ranked foes.

Parr and No. 7 Wallace State (43-10, 14-0 Alabama Community College Conference) opened a five-game advantage in the division over No. 13 Southern Union, winning the opener 19-3 in six innings and the finale 4-3.

The Lady Lions had their biggest offensive explosion of the season in Thursday’s opener, posting a season-high 19 runs behind six homers and a 13-run sixth inning.  

Parr, a former Hayden standout, had her best day in a Wallace State uniform, finishing the opener 4 for 4 with three homers, five RBIs and four runs.

Olivia Royals blasted a grand slam for Wallace State, Sam Riley finished 2 for 5 with a homer, three RBIs and three runs, and Sarah Jordan added a solo shot.

Andrea McKenzie had three hits, an RBI and scored three times for Wallace State, Mackenzie Hill had a pair of singles and scored twice, Julia Dailey had an RBI double, and Rachel Ragland added an RBI single.

Amanda Medders (21-2) was the beneficiary of the season-high outburst, securing her 10th consecutive win on the mound. She went all six innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits, striking out one and walking one.

Parr wasn’t done in the nightcap. She blasted a three-run shot, her seventh of the season, in the top of the first for a 3-0 lead. Wallace State added one run in the fourth, and Ragland made it stand up on the mound.

Ragland (16-6) went the distance for the Lady Lions, yielding three runs on seven hits. She struck out seven.

Riley finished 3 for 4 with a run for Wallace State, Hill was 2 for 4 with a run and Ragland added a single.

Wallace State will put its spotless conference record on the line Saturday against Gadsden State in a home doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.