Lady Senators softball picks up sweep over Columbia State on Sophomore Day

MORRISTOWN, TN – No. 4 Walters State wrapped up a historic regular season on Saturday afternoon, sweeping Columbia State. The Lady Senators took a 15-1 win in game one and a 9-0 victory in game two. 

With the win, Walters State closed out the regular season at 48-2 and 32-2 in TCCAA play. 

Following the conclusion of game two, the Lady Senators 10 sophomores were recognized. Those sophomores were Halle Laramie, Sarah King, Ashlyn Gaines, Adrienne Morrison, Ava Brooks, Brianna Beech, Abigayle Holt, Olivia Harris, Tatum Dye and Ashley Milligan. 

"That's a special sophomore class," Walters State softball coach Larry Sauceman said. "They have done a great job for us over the last two years. Each and every one of them has contributed to this program. We are definitely going to miss them next year and look forward to seeing their future successes." 

GAME ONE: No. 4 Walters State 15, Columbia State 1 (5 Innings)

In game one, the Lady Senators scored 13 runs in the second inning and were off from there. 

Kailey Dixon and Beech led the way at the plate for the Lady Senators, driving in three runs each. Both had two hits, while Beech smacked a home run.

Along with those two, Brooks had three hits while Dye, King and Abigail Taylor each had two hits.

In the circle, Tori Coffman improved to 24-1 on the season with the win. Coffman pitched four innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out five. In the fifth, Holt replaced Coffman and got the final three outs. She did not allow a hit. 

Following a scoreless first, the Lady Senators sent 18 batters to the plate in the second and scored 13 runs. Those runs came on an RBI single from Beech, an RBI single from Brooks, an RBI single from King, an RBI single from Taylor, a two-RBI double by Dixon, a Jules Johnson RBI single, a Dye RBI double, a Laramie sacrifice fly, a three-run homer by Beech, a Taylor RBI single and a Dixon RBI single that made it 13-0.

Columbia State picked up a run in the fourth, but Walters State added two more in the bottom half of the inning as Harris walked with the bases loaded and Kasey Bennett hit a sacrifice fly to make it 15-1.

From there, Holt got Columbia to go 1-2-3 in the fifth to close out the win.

GAME TWO: No. 4 Walters State 9, Columbia State 0 (5 Innings) 

In game two, the Lady Senators scored in every inning as they completed the sweep.

Dixon and Dye led the way at the plate in game two, each homering and driving in three runs. Brooks also had two hits and drove in two runs. 

In the circle, Milligan went the distance as she finished the regular season with a record of 20-1. Milligan struck out nine in her five innings of work and allowed just one hit. 

The Lady Senators started the scoring off in the first on a fielder's choice by Dye that scored Bennett. Walters State then added to the lead in the second as a Dixon sacrifice fly scored Brooks to make it 2-0. 

In the third, Brooks doubled the Lady Senators lead as she doubled home Johnson and Dye to make it 4-0. The fourth inning was more of the same as the Lady Senators got the big bats out with Dixon and Dye both hammering two-run home runs. Johnson also doubled in a run in the inning. 

Up Next:

Walters State will have the week off before returning to action Monday, May 8th at Vol State for the TCCAA/Region 7 Tournament. The Lady Senators are the top-seed and will face the 8/9 winner at 10 a.m. CT. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics