WALTERBORO, S.C. — Walters State opened their 2020 campaign with a bang on Saturday afternoon, taking down USC Salkehatchie, 12-1.
It was complete effort from the Senators who allowed just six hits in the game and had 11 hits of their own. Six pitchers took the mound for Walters State, striking out 19 batters.
Andrew Lindsey (1-0) picked up the win, tossing five innings while allowing just three hits and striking out 10. He walked one batter.
The Senators used five more pitchers to complete the game. The lone run from USC Salkehatchie was unearned. Hudson Ross and Luke Person combined to pitch the sixth inning before Jarrod Culp, Caleb Pearson and Tanner Smith each threw an inning to close the game out.
On the offensive side, second baseman Caleb McNeely and first baseman Bryce Hodge each had three hits, with McNeely booking three RBIs. Right fielder Braydon Runion knocked in three runs of his own.
The offense started early as a Matthew Ellis RBI scoried Jerry Hammons, who had taken first on a walk. Hodge doubled in the inning as well.
McNeely got the scoring going in the third, leading off with a solo home run. With Hodge on base with a walk, Runion knocked one out of the park to put the Senators up 4-0. The fourth inning saw two more runs cross the plate when McNeely singled in Max Riemer and Hodge brought in McNeely with a base hit.
For the third straight inning, Walters State had two runs cross the plate. Seth Gardner grounded out, but scored Matthew Ellis. Then, Silas Butler singled in Riemer to make it an 8-0 ball game.
USC Salkehatchie finally got on the board in the sixth on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded. But the Senators didn't let up. In the eighth, Runion reached on an error by the third baseman, scoring Hodge. In the ninth, three more runs came across when McNeely doubled two more home, and Logan Hullette hit a sacrifice fly.
NEXT UP
Walters State will be back in action Sunday, taking on USC Salkehatchie in a double-header. Game one is set to begin at noon with game two coming right after.