MILLINGTON, Tenn. — Top-ranked Walters State didn't take too kindly to having its winning streak broken earlier in the week, and Tennessee Community College Athletic Association rival Southwest Tennessee just happened to be the next opponent on the schedule
The Senators scored early and often Friday afternoon at USA Stadium, and a 10-spot in the sixth innings put the homestanding Saluqis away in a 19-1 rout of their region foe.
The win was the 15th in the last 16 games for the Senators, as they improved to 18-4 on the year and 5-0 in TCCAA play. It was the 14th straight win against the Saluqis and 30th win against the Memphis team in the last 32 meetings and the 13th straight win against TCCAA opposition.
The loss dropped the Saluqis to 9-14 on the year and 1-6 in league action, as Southwest Tennessee fell to 7-8 at home this season.
Zebby Matthews improved to 2-1 on the year by allowing an earned run on two hits with seven strikeouts and one walk and a hit batter in 5 2/3 innings of work. Jack Collins retired all four batters he faced in relief to close out the game.
Bryce Hodge was the only Walters State player with multiple hits, as he smacked a double and a single and drove in two runs in the win, while Jacob Jennings smoked his first career home run and drove in three runs in the contest. Xavier Arnette added a double, while Jerry Hammons, Brayden Combs, Braydon Runion, Mason Streater, Alex Bibb, Drew Haynie and JL Bland each had a single in the win.
Arnette drove in three runs, while Hammons had two RBIs and Combs, Runion, Streater, Bland, Bibb and Haynie had an RBI apiece in the contest.
Cannon Duke (1-5) took the loss after giving up 12 runs (eight earned) on seven hits with six strikeouts and nine walks and a hit batter in five innings. Barrone Porter doubled and Jackson Little singled and drove in a run in the loss.
Walters State led 1-0 after one inning but increased the margin to 4-0 after three before tacking on two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to make it a 9-0 lead. The 10-run inning in the sixth was highlighted by a three-run bomb by Jennings for his first collegiate round tripper that made it a 19-0 lead.
Southwest Tennessee scored its lone run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The two teams will close out the three-game set on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader at USA Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.