Wallace Community College-Selma continued its struggles Wednesday night with a 9-0 loss to Jefferson State Community College.

Patriots starter Adam Foster couldn’t find the strike zone in the second inning, leading to seven runs for Jefferson State and an 8-0 lead before Wallace could come up for its second at bat.

“This game we couldn’t throw strikes,” Wallace head coach Frank Elliot said.

“That’s part of the problem we have been having, spotting teams five or six runs early and can’t get back.”

On the offensive side of the game, the Patriots hit the ball hard, but typically it would find someone’s glove.

“We hit some shots today,” Elliot said.

“But they were hit right to someone. This season it seems like we can hit it hard at someone and opposing teams would hit Texas-leaguers and would fall.”

As the Patriots move toward the end of the season, Elliot said hard work would be the key to turning it around after a series of home losses with a young group of players.

“I just got done telling them we just have to keep doubling the effort,” Elliot said. “We have doubled the effort in practice with ground balls and hitting, but we just aren’t seeing the results on the field yet. We have to keep working hard.”

Injuries have also played a key in the recent struggles.

“We have all of these guys in street clothes because they are hurt,” Elliot said. “We had a player yesterday pull a hamstring. When you have all of these scholarship players injured, it hurts what you are trying to do.”

The Patriots will play on Saturday against Faulkner State.