GALLATIN, TN – Using momentum from Friday's game two win, No. 7 Walters State grabbed a massive doubleheader sweep over Volunteer State on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Senators won 13-3 in game one and 6-5 in game two.
With the sweep, Walters State improved to 32-6 overall and 22-4 in TCCAA play.
GAME ONE: No. 7 Walters State 13, Volunteer State 3
In game one, Walters State blew open a close game with nine runs in the top of the seventh.
Imari Golden led the way with four hits, while Jules Johnson, Brooklyn Copley and Sarah Evers each homered.
In the circle, Makayla Ramsey improved to 5-1 with the win. Ramsey threw five innings, allowing three unearned runs on four hits. Hayley Lawing replaced Ramsey in the sixth and picked up her first save of the season, throwing two innings. She allowed no runs and struck out one.
Much like game one on Friday, Walters State got the scoring going on Saturday in the top of the first with Copley's 11th home run of the season. This one was a two-run shot that put the Lady Senators up 2-0.
Vol State got a run back in the bottom of the second, but Walters State scored twice in the top of the third to go up 4-1. Those runs came on a Nora Mack RBI double and a Golden RBI double.
Volunteer State responded again in the bottom of the third with two runs, and 4-3 is where the score remained until the seventh. In the seventh, Mack walked to lead off the inning and scored on an error to make it 5-3. Carley Cook made it 6-3 with an RBI single two batters later, and it was 9-3 one batter after Cook as Evers smashed a three-run home run. It was her second of the season.
The scoring didn't stop there for the Lady Senators, as singles by Annaston Hulsey and Abigail Taylor and a walk to Mack loaded the bases. That brought up Johnson and she capped off the inning with a bang, hitting a grand slam to make it 13-3. It was Johnson's 10th home run of the season.
GAME TWO: No. 7 Walters State 6, Volunteer State 5
In game two, Ramsey and Lawing locked down the Lady Senators third win of the weekend.
Lawing got the start in the circle and improved to 11-3 with the win. Lawing pitched five innings, giving up five runs while striking out one. Ramsey replaced Lawing in the sixth and pitched the final two innings to pick up her first save of the season. Ramsey didn't allow a hit and struck out one, ending the weekend with two wins and a save.
At the plate, Dixon had three hits and two RBI. Copley added two more RBI and a double to her impressive weekend, as well.
The Lady Senators picked up three runs in the top of the first to get things rolling. Johnson had an RBI single to start it off, and Copley scored two with a two-RBI double that made it 3-0.
Vol State got a run in the bottom of first and three in the bottom of the second to take a 4-3 lead, but Walters State tied the game at four in the fifth as Mack singled home Dixon.
In the sixth, the Lady Senators took the lead for good. A walk to Cook and back-to-back singles by Haidyn Campbell and Taylor loaded the bases with two outs for Dixon. Dixon worked the count to 1-1 and then laced a two-RBI single to give the Lady Senators a 6-4 lead.
Vol State hit a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to one, but Ramsey replaced Lawing and got the final six outs to secure the win.
Up Next:
Walters State will be back in action on Wednesday, hosting Cleveland State. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 2 p.m. ET.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics