MORRISTOWN, TN – Alayna Ross had five hits in Thursday's doubleheader against Columbia State, none being bigger than a walk off solo home run in game two to give the Lady Senators a 6-5 win in nine innings. Walters State won 14-1 in five innings in game one.
With the sweep, the Lady Senators improved to 16-13 overall and 6-2 in TCCAA play.
GAME ONE: Walters State 14, Columbia State 1 (5 Innings)
In game one on Thursday, Walters State had 18 hits and ended the game in five innings.
Ross was a perfect 3-3 in the game to lead the way, driving in three runs as well. Kendal Mason and Allie Seritt each homered and had three RBIs apiece, while Jaelyn McDaniel had three hits and two RBIs.
In the circle, Emma Myatt got the start and threw all five innings. Myatt allowed one run on five hits and struck out seven.
The Lady Senators struck for three runs in the first inning, as Mason slugged a two-run home run while Nora Mack singled home Ross to make it 3-0. Walters State added three more runs in the second to go up 6-0, as Mason singled home Olivia Neese, Ross singled home Addison Beech and McDaniel singled in Mason.
In the third, Walters State put the game to bed with eight runs. Ross started things with a two-RBI single, and Brooklyn Copley doubled home Ross to make it 9-0. After McDaniel singled in Copley, Brenna Hunley made it 11-0 with an RBI single. The final three runs of the inning came as Seritt smashed a three-run home run to make it 14-0.
Columbia picked up a run in the fifth, but that was all.
GAME TWO: Walters State 6, Columbia State 5 (9 innings)
Game two needed two extra innings, but Walters State prevailed to sweep the doubleheader.
Ross had two more hits in the game, including the walk off home run in the ninth, while the bottom of the order, Hunley, Seritt and Neese, all had two hits apiece.
In the circle, Makayla Ramsey got the start and threw four innings. Ramsey allowed three runs on three hits and struck out one. Summer Smith pitched the final five innings and picked up the win, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out two.
It was a pitcher's duel to start the game, but Walters State got on the board in the bottom of the second on a single by Seritt that scored Hunley. The Lady Senators added another run in the third on a sacrifice fly from Mason that scored Neese to make it 2-0, but Columbia State took the lead in the fourth with three runs.
In the fifth, the Lady Senators grabbed the lead back with two runs as Beech singled home Neese and Copley hit a sacrifice fly that scored Beech to make it 4-3. Columbia took one final lead in the top of the sixth at 5-4 and were three outs away from the win. However, Ross led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and Copley followed up with a single. After McDaniel flew out but moved the runner to third, pinch-hitter Imari Golden tied the game at five with an RBI single.
5-5 was the score until the bottom of the ninth as Ross stepped up with one out and leveled a ball over the fence in center to walk things off.
Up Next:
Walters State will be at home on Friday afternoon, taking on Jackson State. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 12 pm ET.
