HARRIMAN, TN – No. 3 Walters State continued their winning ways Friday afternoon, sweeping Roane State in a doubleheader, 8-1 and 9-3.
With the sweep, Walter State improves to 31-1 overall and 17-1 in conference play. The Senators have now won 25 straight games.
NO. 3 WALTERS STATE 8, ROANE STATE 1
The Senators were led in the game by Jerry Hammons who continued his dominant stretch of play. Hammons had three hits, one a home run, and drove in four runs. With his home run, Hammons upped his season total to 15 which puts him in first in the NJCAA and his RBI total to 47, second in the NJCAA.
Along with Hammons, Skyler Cannady, making his first appearance in the leadoff spot, collected two hits and drove in a run while Alberto Osuna also had two hits.
Hayden Summers got the start on the mound but was forced out of the game just a few pitches into the contest. Matt Dailey replaced Summers and was phenomenal in relief. Dailey threw a complete game, allowing one run on three hits while striking out four.
The scoring started quickly for the Senators as Matthew Ellis made it 1-0 in the bottom of the first with a ground out that scored Cannady who doubled to start the game. Still in the first, Nick Block made it 2-0 when he singled home Osuna.
In the fourth, Walters State added to their lead as Cannady first singled home Noah Gent. Then, it was Hammons who made it 4-1 when he singled and an error allowed Cannady to score.
Hammons put the game away in the top of the sixth when he hammered a three-run home run over the fence. Osuna concluded the scoring later in the inning when he singled to score Ellis.
NO. 3 WALTERS STATE 9, ROANE STATE 3
In game two, the Senators used a seven-run second inning to put the game out of reach early and earn the sweep.
The Senators were led by Osuna who hit his 14th home run of the year in the second inning. Osuna had three RBIs. Hammons also added two hits in the game while Block had three and Dalton McLain had two and scored two runs.
After a scoreless first inning, the Senators broke through in the second. First, it was McLain who singled and scored Gent. After Silas Butler hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0, Hammons singled in McLain. Osuna provided the big spark next, blasting a three-run homer to make it 6-0. Cam Fisher wouldn't let Osuna steal all the spotlight as he hammered a ball over the fence to make it 7-0 two batters later.
The Senators would add to their lead in the third on a Butler sacrifice fly and concluded the scoring in the seventh when Lukas Cook singled in McLain.
Jake Knapp got the start on the mound for Walters State, throwing 4.2 innings and allowing two runs, just one earned, on eight hits and struck out four. Drew Honeycutt replaced Knapp in the fifth with two outs and would pitch an inning, allowing one run, before Nathan Morris pitched 3.1 scoreless innings to close the game out.
UP NEXT:
Walters State will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on this same Roane State team, this time at home. First pitch of the doubleheader 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