Pantier walks it off to lift Senators to 8-7 win over Southwest Tennessee in 10 innings
| Final (10) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 3 |
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 1 |
CHATTANOOGA, TN – Adversity hit No. 1 Walters State on Tuesday at the TCCAA/Region 7 Tournament.
Taking on Southwest Tennessee, the Senators fell behind by two runs heading to the ninth inning. However, if there was any doubt about how the Senators would handle the adversity, it was put to rest over the next 30 minutes.
The Senators tied the game with two runs in the ninth, sending things to extra innings. After Brayden Blankenship went 1-2-3 in the top of the 10th, Walters State loaded the bases in the bottom half. Holden Pantier came to the plate with one out and lofted a single into left field, scoring the winning run to give the Senators an 8-7 win.
With the win, the Senators improved to 51-6-1 overall.
At the plate for Walters State, it was a balanced effort. Jack Torbett led the way with three hits, while Nate Conner and Taylor Harris each hit solo home runs.
On the mound, Aiden Robertson got the start and threw six innings. Robertson gave up two runs on seven hits and struck out four. Jace Kirby replaced Robertson in the seventh and gave up three runs on no hits in an inning before Mason Trucks threw the next 1.2 innings. Trucks allowed one run on three hits and struck out three.
Blankenship entered in the 10th and picked up three outs, striking out two.
The Senators got off to a good start in the game, as Jack Vogele scored Kole Fenton on a groundout in the first and an error scored Conner to make it 2-0.
That was the score until the fourth when a wild pitch scored Carson Cabbage to make it 3-0. The fifth inning saw Walters State score a run again with an RBI single by Cabbage, but Southwest cut it to 4-2 in the top of the sixth.
Needing to get back on track, Harris did so in the bottom half of the sixth as Harris smoked a two-out solo homer over the fence in left to make it 5-2.
Unfortunately for Walters State, Southwest scored four in the eighth and one in the top of the ninth to take a 7-5 lead. With their backs against the wall, Conner opened up the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run that cut the lead to one. Vogele followed up with a single, and Myatt walked to put two on. After a sacrifice bunt by Pantier moved the runners to second and third, a wild pitch scored Vogele to tie the game at seven.
In the 10th, Blankenship mowed the Saluqis down. Fenton led off the bottom of the 10th for the Senators with a walk and Conner walked after. Vogele was then intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs. Following a strikeout, Pantier came up and lofted a ball into left field to win the game.
Up Next:
Walters State will be back in action on Wednesday morning at 10 am, taking on the winner of Cleveland State and Roane State.
