OXFORD, AL – The Walters State softball team are one of the final six teams at the NJCAA DI Softball World Series for the second straight year.
On Thursday against 20th-seeded Trinidad State, the 10th-seeded Lady Senators got a massive bases-loaded hit by Sarah Evers and let Tori Coffman do the rest. Coffman struck out 10, as Walters State picked up a 4-1 win.
With the victory, the Lady Senators moved to 46-10 on the season. They will play again at 6 p.m. CT tonight. The opponent will be the loser of McLennan and Temple.
It's been a grind for the Lady Senators, rallying off three elimination games after dropping their first game on Monday. However, Walters State has shown poise and done whatever it takes to get the victory.
"It feels really good," Coffman said. "We've been hitting the ball well and playing good defense. We've been playing really well as a team right now."
Coffman threw all seven innings on Thursday, allowing just one run in the first inning and six hits. Coffman has thrown 14 innings over the past 24 hours, allowing 10 hits and just one earned run. She has struck out 17 during that time.
"I've just been telling myself that summer is coming up, and I have all that time to rest," Coffman said. "I'm just trying my hardest right now."
At the plate, Evers had the big hit for Walters State with a three-RBI triple. Kendal Mason had two hits, as well.
Trinidad State got on the board first in the game with three straight hits in the top of the first, the last one scoring a run. However, Coffman battled down and struck out the next two and got a lineout to get out of the jam.
Coffman picked up two more strikeouts in the second and one in the third. After Coffman left a runner stranded on third in the fourth, the Lady Senators finally struck in the bottom half of the inning. Nora Mack led off with a single, and Jules Johnson walked to put two on with one out. Following a bloop single by Mason to load the bases, Evers stepped up and ripped a ball down the left-field line. All three runners scored, and Evers ended up on third with a triple.
Abigail Taylor was next up, and she grounded out but scored Evers to make it 4-1.
"Sarah's hit was huge," Coffman said. "It got our confidence up because it was such a huge hit. When we got those runs, I just knew if I settled down and stayed in control we could win this game."
From there, Coffman was in the zone. She struck out one in the fifth and the side in the sixth. In the seventh, Coffman got a pop up to start and a fielder's choice to make it two outs. However, two walks loaded the bases. Needing one final out, Coffman went 3-2 to the next batter but got a lineout back to her to end it.
"At the end, I was just trying to get that final out," Coffman said. "I was just throwing it and praying it was going to Jules' mit."
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics