MORRISTOWN, TN – Just two days after putting up absurd offensive numbers against Roane State, the Walters State softball team did the exact same thing during their Thursday doubleheader against Motlow State. 

The Lady Senators put up 19 runs on 16 hits in game one and followed that up with a 21-run performance in game two as they swept the doubleheader 19-11 and 21-3.  

With the victories, Walters State improves to 7-3 on the season and 4-2 in conference play.  

"They're seeing the ball and getting more swings," Walters State coach Larry Sauceman said. "We built a big lead in game one, but our pitching let them back in the game. We just have to do better there." 

WALTERS STATE 19, MOTLOW STATE 11 

Offense was zero issue for the Lady Senators in game one as they totaled 16 hits and scored 19 runs.  

Walters State was led in the game by Jessica Odom with four hits while Sydney Dukes and Hanna Taylor both knocked in six runs.  

After her nine RBI performance on Tuesday, Odom started the scoring off for the Lady Senators on Thursday, driving in two runs in the bottom of the first to make it 2-1.  

Then, in the second, Walters State added two more as Dukes doubled home Kaitlyn Harper and Jessica Campbell to up the lead to 4-1.  

Hanna Taylor continued the offense in the bottom of the third. After Brickey and Odom singled, Taylor made it 7-1 with a three-run home run, her first of the season.  

Still in the bottom of the third, Kallyn Newport added two more runs as she went yard to make it 9-2.  

After Motlow closed the gap to one run, the barrage of home runs would continue in the bottom of the fifth as Kasey Bennett hit her third home run of the week, this one also a two-run shot, that got the lead back up to three.  

Motlow once again responded to tie the game up, but Dukes was at it again in the bottom of the sixth. Newport, Hayley Parrott and Campbell all got on to load the bases. Then, Dukes cleared them all with one swing, mashing a grand slam over the fence to make it 15-11.  

Not to be outdone, Taylor hit her second home run of the game just four batters later, a three-run bomb to make it 18-11. A passed ball ended the game.  

"We're just getting so many more swings now that you're really starting to see our offense do well," Sauceman said. "As long as we are able to consistently play games, our offense will keep playing well." 

In the circle, Walters State used their trio of pitchers to try and disrupt the Motlow offense. Allison Chandler got the start and threw 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits.  

Hannah Robinson replaced her in the fourth and threw just a third of an inning before Lauren Brickey closed it out and picked up the win, her fourth of the year.  

"We walked way too many people," Sauceman said. "That's where we need to keep getting better, pitching. If we do that, we can be pretty good."  

WALTERS STATE 21, MOTLOW STATE 3 

Somehow, someway the Walters State offense surpassed its performance in game two.  

Walters State scored 12 runs in the first inning and never looked back, totaling 20 hits and 21 runs.  

The Lady Senators were led by Bennett who had three hits and three RBIs. Brickey knocked in four runs while Parrott drove home five.  

The first inning set the tone as five different players knocked in runs. Bennett, Brickey and Parrott all homered in the inning while Dukes doubled home a run. Parrott's home run was a grand slam.  

The scoring continued in the second inning with three more runs being scored before the Lady Senators put it away in the fourth with six more runs. In the fourth, Courtney Williams got in on the fun with a three-run home run.  

Walters State had production from many different people in the game, something Sauceman sees as a good thing, especially during this odd time. 

"It's huge getting that much production," Sauceman said. "With COVID, you never know when you're going to need someone to play. So being confident with who we have out there is a big deal."  

In the circle, the pitching got a lot better as Robinson picked up her third win of the year with a complete game. Robinson allowed just one earned run on two hits and struck out three.  

UP NEXT: 

Walters State will be back in action on Saturday, travelling to take on Volunteer State for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics