OXFORD, AL – A season that won't be forgotten anytime soon came to a close on Thursday night for Walters State at the NJCAA DI Softball World Series.
Entering the day with their backs against the wall, No. 4 Walters State almost pulled off the impossible, winning two games before falling in their final one of the day. The Lady Senators opened the day with a 1-0 win over Wallace State and then won an extra-inning thriller over Indian Hills, 4-2. However, the Lady Senators ran out of steam in game three as they fell 14-0 to Grayson in six innings.
With the loss, the Lady Senators closed the season out with a 55-4 record. They were the TCCAA and Region 7 Champions and finished in sixth-place at the NJCAA DI Softball World Series.
"What an unbelievable season," Walters State coach Larry Sauceman said. "I can't say enough about this group. I'm super proud of them and everything they have done. It's been a special ride. These girls love each other and when you have chemistry like this, look what it leads to. Just a really great season."
GAME ONE: No. 4 Walters State 1, No. 3 Wallace State 0
In the opening game of the day, Tori Coffman did Tori Coffman things as she threw a complete game shutout to keep the Lady Senators season alive.
Coffman allowed just one hit in the game and struck out eight as she picked up her 32nd win of the season. It was her second complete game, one-hit shutout at the World Series.
At the plate, Kailey Dixon and Brianna Beech had two hits each while Sarah King had the other hit for the Lady Senators.
The lone run in the game came in the third inning as King singled, Abigail Taylor reached on an error and Dixon singled to load the bases. After a force out at the plate, Beech came through with an RBI single that scored Taylor to make it 1-0.
That was the final score as Coffman breezed through the final four innings to collect the win. In the seventh, Coffman walked a Wallace State batter with two outs but struck out the final hitter to end the game.
GAME TWO: No. 4 Walters State 4, No. 10 Indian Hills 2 (8 Innings)
In game two, Ava Brooks and Ashley Milligan saw to it that the Lady Senators season stayed alive for a few more hours.
Milligan threw a complete game in the circle, allowing two runs, one earned, while striking out four and kept the Lady Senators in the game. And in the bottom of the eighth, Brooks ended the game with a two-run shot off the scoreboard. It was Brooks' 11th home run of the season.
With the win, Milligan closed out the season at 22-2. She won 43 games over her two years at Walters State.
At the plate, Beech had two more hits while Brooks knocked in two runs and hit the game-winning home run. The Lady Senators had eight hits.
Indian Hills got on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning, but the Lady Senators immediately tied it in the bottom half as Kasey Bennett doubled and Halle Laramie drove her home with a sacrifice fly.
Following two scoreless innings, Indian Hills retook the lead with a run. However, Walters State came back in the fifth to tie the game as Beech singled home Taylor to make it 2-2.
That's where the score stayed as Milligan continued to hold Indian Hills at bay. Finally, in the bottom of the eighth, Laramie reached on a walk and Brooks ended the game with her two-run blast.
GAME THREE: No. 6 Grayson 14, No. 4 Walters State 0 (6 Innings)
In game three, the Lady Senators ran into a strong Grayson team and saw their incredible season come to an end.
Coffman got the start in the circle and took the loss. Coffman finished her freshman season at 32-2, striking out a school record 296 batters and recording a 1.14 ERA. The 32 wins in a season is also a school record.
Milligan replaced Coffman in the fifth inning and threw 1.2 innings before Abigayle Holt came in and got the final out of the sixth inning.
At the plate, Olivia Harris, Brooks, Jules Johnson and King all picked up hits.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics