GRAND JUNCTION, CO – Shelton State struck for five runs in the first inning of the opening game of the JUCO World Series and Walters State could never climb back into it as they fell to the Buccaneers, 13-7.
The Senators will now move to the losers bracket where they will play the loser of San Jacinto and Miami Dade at 9:30 p.m. ET on Sunday in a win-or-go-home matchup.
"It's probably the most I have seen nerves get to us in a game one out here," Walters State head coach Dave Shelton said. "I think the nerves got to us a little bit, but you have to tip your cap to Shelton. They out-played us, out-coached us and out-everything'd us. You just have to come ready to play out here, but we weren't ready to go, and the nerves got to us."
It was a strong start for Shelton State as a grand slam capped off their five-run first inning. However, as they have for the entirety of the season, the Senators struck back.
After Jerry Hammons singled with one out in the bottom of the inning, Matthew Ellis doubled him home to make it 5-1. Then, with two strikes, the nation's leader in home runs, Alberto Osuna, hit his 25th of the year to make it 5-3.
Osuna led the way for Walters State with two hits and had three RBIs.
"It was a 1-2 count, and I knew that a breaking ball was going to come," Osuna said. "I just took my brother's (Ramon) advice and relaxed. It's the same game I have played since I was five years old. I just relaxed and played my game."
The Walters State offense went silent after that until the bottom of the fifth. Trailing 6-3, the Senators woke up in the form of a Caleb McNeely home run that was crushed to left field. Hammons walked after that and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Osuna singled him in with two outs.
However, Shelton State would respond with three runs in the top of the sixth to make it 9-5. Leading off the bottom of the six, Walters State quickly made it a three-run ball game again when Nick Block hammered a ball over the right field fence.
In the seventh, Walters State had their best chance of the contest. With one out, Hammons collected his second hit of the game with a single to the left side. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Ellis doubled for the second time in the game and scored Hammons. Osuna was the next batter and he walked, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate with one out.
However, Cam Fisher would strike out and Block flew out to the warning track in right-center field, and it remained a two-run ball game.
From there, Shelton State put the game out of reach in the eighth with back-to-back-to-back home runs to lead off the inning. They added one more in the ninth.
With those 13 runs, that was all Shelton State pitcher Garrett McMillan needed as he threw a complete game, striking out 13 while throwing 149 pitches.
"That was a big-time performance by him," Shelton said. "He settled in and showed what kind of workhorse he is. He is a warrior. To throw a complete game out here in Grand Junction, is unreal."
Drake started the game on the mound for Walters State and settled down following the five run first as he managed to battle through five innings, striking out eight.
Nathen Morris replaced Drake and struggled for the first time in three weeks as he lasted just 0.2 innings, giving up three runs. From there, Joey Mitchell threw an inning, giving up three runs before Brayden Matthews pitched a scoreless inning and Matt Dailey threw the ninth, giving up one run.
Now, the Senators find themselves in a familiar spot with their backs against the wall. Just two weeks ago, Walters State had to win three straight games to keep their season alive and did just that.
Now, they will carry that same mindset over into a bigger stage.
"We're kind of used to it by now," Ellis said. "We have had our backs against the wall from the start, even in Cleveland. We just have to hope things will go our way tomorrow."
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics