Drake, Knapp pitch No. 2 Walters State to sweep of Motlow State

MORRISTOWN, TN – Kohl Drake and Jake Knapp have been unstoppable to start the season for No. 2 Walters State and that continued on Saturday afternoon.

Drake got the start in game one against Motlow State and threw a complete game as the Senators took home a 2-1 victory. In game two, Knapp was the star, throwing six innings, as Walters State completed the sweep with a 9-1 victory.

With the sweep, Walters State moved to 20-2 overall and 3-0 in TCCAA play.

Drake and Knapp are now a combined 11-0 on the season and have struck out 85 batters in 55 innings of work. Saturday was the first time this season either one had given up an earned run. 

For both, they were in the starting rotation last season but have really stepped up their game early on this year. 

"You can really pick whatever you want to pick (on what they have improved on this season)," Walters State coach Dave Shelton said. "Their stamina is better, they've gotten in better shape, their fastball and breaking balls are better, their command is better and both of their changeups are better. From top to bottom, they have gotten better at every aspect of being a pitcher. They've been pretty special this year." 

As a team, the Senators still have things to improve on. However, a 3-0 start to conference play is always a nice start. 

"Anytime you can get three wins, it's good," Shelton said. "Motlow's record isn't what they wanted to be, but that is a good baseball team. They've played the toughest schedule in the conference and have taken some tough losses. I don't think they'll lose many series in the season with that team.

"I am pleased with the sweep, but there are just some things I would like to see us do better. We need to do a better job at maintaining our focus and just doing the little things." 

Game One: Walters State 2, Motlow State 1 

Game one of the day was a pitcher's duel as Drake and Motlow's Luke Stone both pitched complete games.

Drake was phenomenal for the Senators, striking out 11 and allowing just a run on three hits. The run came in the top of the seventh on a solo home run. 

At the plate, Andrew Ott and Noah Gent knocked in the runs for the Senators as Ott had two hits. Caleb McNeely also had two hits in the game. 

Walters State wasted no time getting the scoring going as they got one in the bottom of the first. After McNeely and Colby Backus both reached base to start the inning, Gent grounded out to third, bringing McNeely home.

However, the Senators wouldn't score again until the bottom of the sixth when they brought home what proved to be the game winner when Ott singled in Dalton McLain.

Following the Motlow home run to open up the seventh, the Bucks got another hit and had a runner on with one out. Cool, calm and collected, Drake got the next batter to ground to McNeely for a game-ending double play. 

Game Two: Walters State 9, Motlow State 1 

In game two, the bats finally woke up late as Knapp didn't need much help to secure the victory.

Knapp started on the mound and threw six innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out 10. Landon Slemp pitched the final inning, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out one. 

At the plate, Nick Block was the only player who had a multi-hit game as he recorded two hits. McNeely hit his fourth homer of the week, a two-run shot, while Kory Klingenbeck had a bases-clearing double. 

McNeely was the one to get Walters State on the scoreboard first in the third inning when he blasted a home run over the fence in left to make it 2-0. 

The Senators added one more in the fourth as Ott continued his solid day at the plate, doubling in Cole McCallum to make it 3-0. 

Motlow added one in the top of the fifth to make it 3-1, but Walters State scored five in the bottom of the fifth. The first two runs came home on bases loaded walks to McLain and Ott. Klingenbeck then cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double that made it 8-1.

The last run for Walters State came in the sixth as Block singled home Gent. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action next weekend as they host Chattanooga State. The two teams are scheduled to play a nine-inning game at 2 p.m. on Friday and a doubleheader, starting at noon, on Saturday.

"We're going to take a few days off to recharge our batteries with it being spring break," Shelton said. "They just need to find it within themselves to fight complacency and just maintain our focus a little bit better. We just need to get better at our little things and with our execution." 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics