Three-run eighth pushes No. 1 Walters State past Volunteer State in opener

GALLATIN, TN – No. 1 Walters State rallied for three runs in the eighth inning on Saturday afternoon in the opener against Volunteer State, holding on for a 4-3 win. 

With the victory, the Senators improved to 32-4 on the season and 11-2 in TCCAA play. 

Down 2-1 heading to the top of the eighth, Cooper Torres led things off with a single. After moving to third on a Caleb Marmo single, Torres scored on a Kurtis Reid sacrifice fly to tie the game at two. The Senators took the lead right after as Cole McCallum singled to score Marmo. The final run came when Corbin Shaw singled in Miles Smith, running for McCallum, to make it 4-2. 

Vol State scored a run in the ninth and had the tying and winning runs on base, but Karson Bonaparte forced a ground ball to Torres at second to end the game. 

Marmo led the way at the plate with three hits, while Shaw had two and drove in two runs. 

Landon Crumbley got the start on the mound, throwing five innings. Crumbley allowed two runs on six hits while striking out four. 

Blake Cooper (3-1) replaced Crumbley in the sixth and threw three innings, allowing an unearned run on no hits while striking out three. Bonaparte came in with a runner on first in the ninth and closed things out to pick up his first save of the season. 

Things started quick for the Senators as Marmo led the game off with a single and was driven in on a two-out single by Shaw. 

Vol State would tie the game at one in the second and then take the lead in the third. However, the Senators rallied in the eighth to grab the victory. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Sunday for two more games against Vol State. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics