MORRISTOWN, TN – Cleveland State forced a winner-take-all game three on Friday afternoon as the Cougars defeated No. 2 Walters State 7-5 in game two of the TCCAA/Region VII Tournament.

With the loss, Walters State falls to 53-4 on the season. The three-game series is now tied at one game apiece. Game three will be on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

"We just have to relax and play our game," Walters State coach Dave Shelton said. "They played good against us. Sometimes you have to just tip your hat to the other team. We made some mistakes and didn't have the best approach at the plate. We have to be able to make adjustments. But you have to tip your hat to Cleveland. They did a heck of a job."

Walters State got out to a 1-0 lead early on Cleveland State and looked to be in control as Peyton Calitri breezed through the first two innings on the mound. However, the Cougars struck for four runs in the top of the third and would never trail again.

"He (Calitri) lost his control a little bit and fell behind some guys in that top of the third," Shelton said. "Then we didn't field a couple of bunts properly. Some of it is just bad luck, but those are things we work on and know how to handle. It just led to a big inning and ultimately cost us."

Cleveland State's Daniel Crabtree threw a complete game against the Senators, keeping them off balance at the plate and unable to strike for that big inning that Walters State is so accustomed to having.

"He just kind of mixed it up," Shelton said. "He's got good command so he can nibble off the plate a little bit. When you have that 20 mph wind going with you, you can just lay it in there and see what happens. If you don't hit it perfect, it's not going out in this."

At the plate, Walters State was led by Jerry Hammons who had two hits, one a home run, and drove in two runs. Matthew Ellis had two hits as well.

Walters State got the scoring going in the top of the first as Caleb McNeely doubled on a heads up play, and Hammons singled him home. However, Cleveland struck for four runs in the top of the third and took a 4-1 lead.

Walters State cut into the lead in the third when Ellis doubled home Silas Butler and in the fifth when Hammons knocked a solo shot over the fence in right to make it 4-3. But Cleveland State answered right back with a two-run home run in the sixth that pushed the lead back to three runs.

In the bottom of the sixth, Walters State continued to chip away as Noah Gent hit a sacrifice fly that scored Cam Fisher. The Senators looked poised to break out for a big inning in the eighth when Ellis doubled and Fisher doubled him home to make it 6-5. However, Nick Block flew out for the second out and Fisher was doubled up at second. The Cougars would homer in the ninth to push the lead back to 7-5.

On the mound, Calitri got the start but was forced out after the big third inning. Matt Dailey replaced him and went 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out five. After Brayden Matthews got the final out of the seventh inning, Nathan Morris pitched the final two innings, giving up one run on two hits while striking out four.

UP NEXT:

Walters State now finds themselves in unfamiliar territory as their backs are against the wall. However, Shelton feels his team is ready for the challenge and ready to keep their season going. First pitch for Saturday's game at Ken Campbell Field is set for 2 p.m.

"I just want us to play our game and do what they've done all season," Shelton said. "It's tough to beat a team 10 consecutive times. Now we're 9-1 against them, so let's start back over."

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics