14th-ranked Senators drop opening game to Southwest Tennessee

MILLINGTON, TN – No. 14 Walters State grabbed six runs in the first four innings on Thursday afternoon against Southwest Tennessee but failed to score after, falling 7-6 to the Saluqis.

With the loss, the Senators fell to 25-9 overall and 10-3 in TCCAA play. 

Taz Butler got the start on the mound for the Senators, throwing six innings. Butler allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits and struck out six. Gage Peterson (2-2) replaced Butler in the seventh and pitched the final two innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three.

At the plate, Walker Morgan led the way with a grand slam. Kurtis Reid had two hits, while Keaton Ray homered and walked twice. 

Walters State started the scoring in Thursday's game, as Ray smoked a solo homer in the top of the second. Southwest took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the inning, but the Senators tied the game in the top of the third on an RBI single by Deniel Ortiz.

Once again, the Saluqis answered back in the bottom of the inning with a solo homer that gave them a 3-2 lead. In the fourth, Logen Sutton led things off for Walters State with a single and Jarrett Martin and Ray walked to load the bases. That brought up Morgan, who smacked a grand slam to give Walters State a 6-3 advantage.

However, Southwest scored a run in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings to take the lead. Walters State got the tying run onboard in the ninth but could not bring him home. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action against Southwest TN on Friday for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 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