Shaw, Crumbley lead No. 1 Walters State over Cleveland State in series opener

MORRISTOWN, TN – Corbin Shaw had a game Friday afternoon that most baseball players dream about. 

Taking on Cleveland State, Shaw drove in six runs and collected four hits. His last hit was the biggest, a three-run homer in the eighth that ended the game and gave No. 1 Walters State an 11-2 win over the Cougars.

With the win, the Senators improved to 39-6 on the season and 15-3 in TCCAA play. 

"I was just being patient and waiting back and seeing the ball real good today," Shaw said. "It's always good to get these first wins. It puts us in a good position."

Shaw was a triple away from the cycle in the game, smacking two singles, a double and his three-run homer. 

Along with Shaw at the plate, Deniel Ortiz and Kruise Newman smacked home runs. Ortiz had two hits, as well. 

On the mound, Landon Crumbley (8-0) got the start and threw his best outing of the season. Crumbley threw six innings, allowing one run on five hits and struck out seven.

"From pitch one, I was throwing strikes and could tell I was in the zone," Crumbley said. "We had quick innings one through five. Everything just felt like it was there." 

Crumbley set the tone from the very beginning as he got through the first inning with zero stress, and his team gave him the lead in the bottom half of the inning. 

"In the past, first inning has really been my speed bump," Crumbley said. "Today, the first inning was really the quickest inning and that was a great start." 

The outing for Crumbley was not only big for his team but it was big for himself as it boosted the confidence going forward on the mound. 

"Confidence is way up there now," Crumbley said. "Especially with it being a conference game, that makes it even bigger. Definitely boosted the confidence." 

When Crumbley wasn't setting down the Cougars, his defense was making plays behind him as well. 

In the second inning, the leadoff hitter for Cleveland singled. The next batter roped a ball to third, however, Ortiz made a phenomenal play and started a 5-4-3 double play. Ortiz threw the next batter out and then made a great play later in the game to prevent damage. 

"I owe him dinner after that one," Crumbley said. "I have to thank him for that because he saved me."

"He's a dang good player," Shaw added. "He's special to us." 

Things started quick for Walters State in the game as Shaw singled in Cooper Torres in the bottom of the first to make it 1-0. The Senators added two more runs in the inning as Keaton Ray scored a run on a fielder's choice and Kurtis Reid singled home Shaw. 

In the second, Shaw added two more runs as he singled home Jarrett Martin and Cooper Torres to make it 5-0.

The Senators continued to add to the lead with a solo home run in the third by Newman and a solo homer by Ortiz in the fifth that made it 7-0. Cleveland got on the board with solo homers in the sixth and seventh, but Caleb Marmo doubled in a run in the eighth and Shaw ended it with a three-run homer. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action for two more games at home against Cleveland State on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. 

"We just have to stay focused and keep competing as a team," Shaw said. 

"If we come out hot like we did today and put up some runs early and keep going, we'll be fine," Crumbley added. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics