Morristown, TN — The Walters State Lady Senators extended their win streak to three games as they swept Roane State on Thursday.

The rhythm has been a little difficult to find for Walters State (18-12) but a 6-5 win in game one and a 10-9 win in game two against the Lady Raiders of Roane State (8-20) have them going in the right direction.

"I do think we are struggling a little," Walters State's manager Larry Sauceman said. "We are just trying to get back to where we were earlier in the season. Hopefully, by the time we get into the postseason, we find our rhythm. If not, it's going to be a struggle."

Four Lady Senators knocked a pitch for a home run in the two games as Lauren Brickey had two herself on the day.

Walters State combined for a total of 19 hits between the two games to squeeze by the Lady Raiders for the third and fourth time this season. 

Walters State 6, Roane State 5

The first game was tightly contested through each of the seven innings as neither squad could pull away by more than one run until later.

Brickey (7-3) pitched the full game, facing a total of 30 hitters, and was only able to strike out three. However, her defense behind her was able to protect the lead in the sixth and seventh inning.

Both Roane State and Walters State drilled two-run shots in their frames of the second inning for the 2-2 start.

Jessica Odom ignited the Lady Senators' runs in that inning to bring herself and Hayley Parrott home.

As Walters State took a 3-2 lead with Olivia Wheeler's solo shot in the fourth inning, Roane State was right there to notch the score up in its frame of the fifth after Haley McGowen knocked her own solo shot.

"We have some good hitters," Sauceman said. "We know we can hit the ball. We were able to get a little bit of a lead but Roane State kept coming right back. You got to give them credit. We just have to find our stride."

Wheeler went 2-for-4 at the plate and finished game one with two RBIs and Odom went 2-for-3 to also accumulate two RBIs.

The two were responsible for Walters State's first four of five runs. The next two runs to protect the lead were brought in by Brickey's homer and Jessical Campbells single in the sixth. 

Walters State 10, Roane State 9

The Lady Senators were quick to build a big lead against Roane State in game two of the day with a six-run third inning.

Walters State grabbed a 9-3 advantage thanks to the momentum at the plate being built off of Kasey Bennett and Brickey's homer in the first inning.

The two alone gave the Lady Senators a 3-0 lead.

However, after a six-run lead was built at the end of the third, Roane State cracked the code at-bat in the seventh inning to give Walters State a scare.

The Lady Raiders had their own six-run inning in the seventh as Lauren Lawson doubled for an RBI and Bailey Reagan hit a three-run home run.

"We could've ended the game earlier than it did," Sauceman said. "Roane State got a few hits because we gave them the opportunities. We got lucky to scrape by and get that final out."

Fortunately for the Senators, Reagan's hit was the last of the game as they finally executed the final out to save their lead.

UP NEXT:

The Lady Senators take on Motlow State Community College in Sunday's doubleheader slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch. It will be the final games of the regular season for Walters State. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics