Series Win over Shelton State Marks History for Softball
Decatur, AL / Tuscaloosa, AL — Calhoun softball closed out the regular season with a strong series win over Shelton State, taking three of four games while continuing to rewrite the program record book. The Warhawks opened the series at home in Decatur on Thursday, celebrating Sophomore Day by honoring nine sophomores for their role in charting a new path forward for Calhoun softball. The day culminated in a doubleheader sweep, as Calhoun secured its 31st win of the season, the most in a single year for the program since 2017-18.
With the series shifting to Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Calhoun added win No. 32 in game three, marking the program's winningest season since 2013-14. The series victory also clinched the Warhawks a second-straight ACCC Tournament berth as they now await seeding following the conference's final week.
Game 1 – Calhoun 3, Shelton State 0
Calhoun wasted no time in the opener, scoring all three runs in the bottom of the first and riding strong pitching the rest of the way.
Tabitha Frazier started the rally with a single, followed by an Emily Burgreen double and a Tessa Jacobs triple to quickly give the Warhawks a 2-0 lead. Jacobs later scored on a passed ball to make it 3-0.
Both teams threatened throughout the game, but neither could break through again as Calhoun's defense held firm. Addi Wilson earned her 17th win of the season with a complete-game effort, allowing seven hits and striking out six. The Warhawks totaled six hits, with Burgreen and Jacobs combining for four.
Game 2 – Calhoun 4, Shelton State 3
The Warhawks again struck early and responded late to secure the doubleheader sweep and their 31st win of the season.
Kenley Holcombe led off with a single and came around to score on an RBI from Emily Burgreen to give Calhoun a 1-0 lead in the first. In the second, two hit-by-pitches, a walk, and a single pushed across another run to extend the lead to 2-0.
Shelton State answered in the third with four hits in the inning to take a 3-2 advantage, but Calhoun responded in the fifth. Madison Allen scored on a passed ball to tie the game before Tessa Jacobs delivered an RBI single to reclaim a 4-3 lead.
Emellie Hamilton got the start, Kaylee Williams earned her sixth win in relief, and Addi Wilson re-entered in the sixth to shut the door and earn the save. Holcombe paced the offense with a 2-for-4 day, while Madison Allen added pressure on the bases with three stolen bases.
Game 3 – Calhoun 7, Shelton State 4
With the series moving to Tuscaloosa, Calhoun secured its 32nd win of the season and the program's best mark since 2013-14, while also clinching a second-straight ACCC Tournament berth.
The Warhawks came out aggressive again, taking a 2-0 lead in the first on an RBI double from Madison Allen and a steal of home on a passed ball. Shelton State responded immediately, loading the bases and delivering a three-RBI double to take a 3-2 lead.
Calhoun answered in the second with a Kenley Holcombe RBI single to tie the game, and Addie Wallace gave the Warhawks the lead in the fourth with her first home run of the season. After Shelton State tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth on a sacrifice fly, Calhoun responded once more.
In the sixth, Tabitha Frazier delivered a two-run double to center field to give the Warhawks a 6-4 lead, and Sage Lewis added insurance with an RBI double in the seventh. Addi Wilson earned her 18th win of the season with a complete-game performance. Offensively, Madison Allen and Kenley Holcombe combined for four of Calhoun's eight hits, with Holcombe also swiping two bases.
Game 4 – Shelton State 9, Calhoun 0 (5 innings)
With the series already secured, Calhoun turned to its depth in the finale.
Shelton State controlled the game from the start, while the Warhawks rotated pitchers to gain valuable experience heading into postseason play. Emellie Hamilton, Kaylee Williams, and Aynslee Malone all saw time in the circle.
Head coach Denton Bowling reflected on the significance of the season and the group's role in building the program's future. "It's really special to be able to set the tone for this program in year one," Bowling said. "To have the most wins this program has had in over 12 years speaks volumes about the buy-in from these players. They've committed themselves to the work and to each other, and they're laying the foundation for what this program is going to be moving forward."
Calhoun will now await its seeding for the upcoming ACCC Tournament following the conclusion of the regular season.
Calhoun honored nine sophomores on Thursday for their dedication and commitment to laying a foundation for Calhoun softball:
- Kenley Holcombe, second base, Mortimer Jordan High School
- Tessa Jacobs, catcher, Buckhorn High School
- Morgan Lane, first base, Hatton High School
- Madison Allen, outfield, Auburn High School
- Tabitha Frazier, outfield, Spanish Fort High School
- Kaylee Williams, pitcher, Mortimer Jordan High School
- Sage Lewis, first base, Skyline High School
- Addie Wallace, third base, West Limestone High School
- Destiny Trevino, manager, Cherokee High School