CLEVELAND, TN – After falling in walk-off fashion in game one to Cleveland State 6-5, Walters State bounced back in game two against the Lady Cougars for a much needed 8-2 victory.

With the split, Walters State moves to 16-12 on the season and 11-9 in TCCAA play.

CLEVELAND STATE 6, WALTERS STATE 5

It was a tough go for Walters State in game one as the Lady Senators blew a one-run lead in the seventh inning.

The Lady Senators totaled nine hits at the plate and were led by Hayley Parrott and Kaitlyn Harper with two hits apiece. Jessica Odom and Sydney Dukes each knocked in two runs.

After Cleveland State got the scoring going with back-to-back home runs in the second, Walters State answered back with three runs of their own in the third. Kallyn Newport got things going for the Lady Senators when she reached on an error with two outs, allowing Harper to score. Dukes was the next batter and made them pay for the error, blasting a home run over the center field fence to give Walters State the lead.

The Lady Senators added to their lead in the fourth when Odom scored Olivia Wheeler on a sacrifice fly. Then, with the score tied, it was Odom again who came through in the clutch with an RBI single that gave the Lady Senators the led in the top of the sixth.

Unfortunately, Walters State gave up two runs in the bottom of the seventh.

In the circle, Lauren Brickey pitched 6.2 innings. Brickey allowed six runs, five earned, on nine hits.

WALTERS STATE 8, CLEVELAND STATE 2

Wanting to get a little revenge, Walters State did just that in game two. The Lady Senators broke out to a 3-0 lead early and held on for the win.

Kasey Bennett and Olivia Wheeler led the way for the Lady Senators in game two. Bennett and Wheeler each had three hits, one of Bennett's was a home run, while Wheeler knocked in three runs and Bennett drove home two. Hanna Taylor also knocked in two runs in the contest.

After a scoreless first inning, Wheeler got things started for Walters State in the second when she singled home Bennett. Then, Taylor made it 3-0 on a single that scored Wheeler and Brickey.

Cleveland State would cut the lead to one, but Bennett stretched it right back out to three in the fifth when she blasted a two-run home run over the fence. Wanting some insurance, Walters State got it in the seventh when Parrott walked with the bases loaded, scoring Jessica Campbell, and Wheeler doubled in Bennett and Newport.

In the circle, Allison Chandler got the start. Chandler lasted 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits. Brickey replaced her with two outs in the fourth and pitched the remainder of the game, not allowing a run.

UP NEXT:

Walters State will be back in action on Wednesday as they get set for their next-to-last series. They will take on Roane State at home in 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