SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Walters State had little trouble dusting off the bats in their season opening doubleheader against Spartanburg Methodist Sunday. The Lady Senators took a mercy-rule shortened 8-0 victory over the Pioneers in Game One, then knocked them off in another five-inning affair, 11-3, in Game Two.
All the drama evaporated in the opening game in the fourth inning. Already up 4-0 Jenica Brown took first on a walk, then stole second base before getting knocked to third by a Syndey Fox single. A double from Sydney Dukes brought in Brown. Fox and Dukes would come home before the inning ended, putting WSCC up 7-0.
Morgan Riffle (1-0) picked up the win in the circle with two hits, one walk and three strikeouts. Fox, Dukes and Kaitlyn Harper all finished 2-of-3 with an RBI. Freshman Macey Hefner was 2-of-3 with an RBI. Hayley Parrott went 1-of-2 with an RBI.
Game Two got out of hand even faster, with the Lady Senators (2-0) taking an early 11-0 lead in the top of the third, all but ensuring the game would wrap up after five. The Pioneers picked up two runs in the third and one in the fifth, but couldn't get the margin under eight to keep the game going past five frames.
Kenna Kap (1-0) was awarded the pitching victory for WSCC with three hits, two runs and three strikeouts. Alexis Duff pitched the final two innings with one hit, one run and two strikeouts to grab the save.
Fox and Dukes remained hot with the bats. Fox finished 3-of-3 with three RBIs. Dukes was 2-of-3 with three RBIs. Parrott went 2-of-2 with an RBI. Kaitlyn Harper finished 2-of-2 and Jessica Odom 2-of-3.
NEXT UP
The Lady Senators are back in action Friday at the Chipola College Tournament in Dothan, Ala. They'll face off against the College of Central Florida at 4:30 p.m. then the Thomas University JV squad at 7 p.m.