MORRISTOWN, TN – No.5 Walters State benefited from a few crooked numbers on the scoreboard Thursday afternoon, opening up their series with Roane State with a doubleheader sweep. The Lady Senators took game one by a score of 6-2 and game two by a score of 8-0 in five innings.
With the sweep, the Lady Senators improved to 37-1 on the season and 21-1 in TCCAA play.
GAME ONE: No. 5 Walters State 6, Roane State 2
In game one, Walters State scored all six runs in the third inning as they collected the win.
The big hit in the inning came from Jules Johnson, blasting a grand slam over the fence in center. Halle Laramie followed her up three batters later with a two-run shot.
Johnson, Brianna Beech and Abigail Taylor each had two hits in the game to lead the way at the plate.
In the circle, Tori Coffman got the start and threw all seven innings. Coffman allowed one hit, a two-run homer in the seventh, and struck out 11. With the win, she improved to 20-0 on the season and is now tied for third in the country in wins.
The rally in the third started as Taylor reached on an error and Kailey Dixon and Kasey Bennett singled to load the bases. That brought up Johnson who powered a ball over the fence in center.
Following the homer, Beech singled before Laramie crushed a home run over the fence in center to make it 6-0.
Coffman allowed the homer in the seventh but struck out the next three hitters to end the game.
GAME TWO: No. 5 Walters State 8, Roane State 0 (5 Innings)
In game two, the Lady Senators scored two in the first, three in the third and three in the fourth and that was more than enough for Ashley Milligan.
Milligan got the start in the circle and pitched all five innings. She allowed no runs on two hits and struck out 10.
At the plate, Johnson hit her second homer of the day which moved her season total to 17. Beech also hit a home run in game two, her 16th of the season.
Along with Johnson and Beech, Tatum Dye had two hits while Bennett scored two runs.
Following a scoreless top of the first by Roane, Walters State got on the board three batters into the bottom half of the inning as Johnson smacked a two-run homer.
After a scoreless second, the Lady Senators added to their lead in the third as Beech smacked a three-run homer over the fence in left that made it 5-0.
In the fourth, Walters State scored their final three runs as Bennett doubled in Dixon, Dye singled in Bennett and an error scored Johnson.
Milligan struck out the side in the fifth to end things early.
Sauceman honored for 1,000th career win
Following Thursday's sweep, Walters State softball coach Larry Sauceman was honored on the field for his 1,000th career win.
Sauceman collected the win on March 5th with a doubleheader sweep of Motlow State.
On Thursday, Sauceman was presented with a "1000" Walters State jersey. The Lady Senators team also presented him with a signed bat.
Up Next:
Weather permitting, Walters State will be back in action on Friday for a doubleheader against Roane State. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics