CLEVELAND, TN – Tori Coffman was named NJCAA DI Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season on Wednesday and proved why she's one of the best in the country later in the day.
Taking on Cleveland State, Coffman struck out the first 11 batters she faced in game one and 17 in total. The Lady Senators went on to win 5-0 in that game and 6-3 in game two, thanks to a solid start by Hayley Lawing and three-inning relief effort from Coffman.
With the sweep, Walters State improved to 22-2 overall and 13-1 in TCCAA play.
GAME ONE: No. 6 Walters State 5, Cleveland State 0
In game one, Coffman picked up her 14th win of the season and set a career-high in the process.
In the complete game shutout, Coffman struck out a career-high 17 batters and allowed just one hit. Her previous high for strikeouts was 16, achieving that mark twice last season.
At the plate, Abigail Taylor was a perfect 3-3 at the plate while Brooklyn Copley drove in two runs and Kailey Dixon, Taylor and Nora Mack had an RBI each.
The scoring started in the first, as Jules Johnson singled with two outs and Haidyn Campbell walked. That brought up Copley, who doubled to the fence to score both runners and make it 2-0.
That was where the score would stay until the third, when Walters State loaded the bases for Taylor. Taylor singled in Olivia Neese to make it 3-0, and it was 4-0 after Dixon singled to score Imari Golden.
Coffman's consecutive strikeout count was finally broken with two outs in the fourth at 11, but she struck out one in the fifth, three in the sixth and two in the seventh. The Lady Senators final run came in the sixth on a Mack double that scored Taylor to make it 5-0.
GAME TWO: No. 6 Walters State 6, Cleveland State 3
In game two, Dixon led the way at the plate with a triple and home run as Walters State picked up the sweep.
Dixon had three RBI in the game to go with the two hits, while Johnson, Campbell and Copley drove in the other runs. Copley and Johnson each hit home runs.
On the mound, Lawing got the start and improved to 7-0 with the win. Lawing threw four innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits and struck out three.
Coffman entered in the fifth and pitched the final three innings to pick up her third save of the season. Coffman allowed one run on three hits and struck out five more.
It was a scoreless game until the top of the third, when Mack reached third and scored on a Campbell sacrifice fly. Copley was the next batter and made it 2-0 with a solo shot, her team-leading seventh home run of the season.
Cleveland got a run in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 2-1, but the Lady Senators got the run back in the fourth on a Dixon RBI triple. Cleveland again responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-2, but Johnson led off the fifth with a solo homer to make it 4-2.
In the sixth, Walters State got some insurance runs out of the leadoff spot as Dixon slugged a two-run homer to make it 6-2. Cleveland got one more run in the bottom of the sixth, but that was all.
Coffman named NJCAA DI Pitcher of the Week
For the second time in four weeks, Coffman was named the NJCAA DI Pitcher of the Week on Wednesday afternoon.
Coffman earned the honor after not allowing a hit in 13 innings last week. Coffman struck out 28 batters, as well.
Coffman is 14-1 on the season with 164 strikeouts in 83.1 innings. Coffman has given up just six earned runs. She is first in the country in ERA at 0.50 and second in strikeouts.
Up Next:
Walters State will be back in action on Sunday, traveling to Gaston College for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics