No. 2 Walters State scores eight unanswered runs to defeat Southwest Tennessee

ARLINGTON, TN – Trailing 3-1 heading to the fifth inning on Friday afternoon, No. 2 Walters State scored eight unanswered runs against Southwest Tennessee, taking down the Saluqis 9-3.

With the win, Walters State improved to 28-3 overall and 8-1 in TCCAA play. 

Caleb McNeely led the way for Walters State with three hits, including his 12th home run of the season. His 12 homers are second best in the NJCAA. 

Along with McNeely, Cole McCallum and Dalton McLain each hit home runs as McLain drove in three runs and McCallum drove in two. Nick Block also had two RBIs. 

Wesley Scott got the start on the mound for the Senators, throwing four innings and allowing three runs on four hits while striking out seven. Geo Rivera replaced Scott in the fifth and improved to 4-0 on the season with five scoreless innings. Rivera struck out five. 

It was Southwest who got things going early on Friday with a run in the bottom of the second to give them a 1-0 lead. Following a scoreless third, Walters State tied the game up at one in the top of the fourth as McLain scored Noah Gent, who doubled to start the inning, on a sacrifice fly.

However, Southwest would load the bases in the bottom of the fourth and score two more runs to take a 3-1 lead. Not shaken, McNeely opened the fifth inning by immediately cutting the lead in half with a solo home run. 

In the sixth, Walters State took the lead and then some with six runs. After Gent walked to start the inning, McLain drove both of them home with his second home run of the season. The homer gave the Senators a 4-3 lead. 

Later in the fifth, with Andrew Ott on third and McNeely on second, Block singled them both in with two outs to make it 6-3. Two more runs scored for the Senators on the very next at bat as McCallum smacked a home run.

Walters State added one more run in the game in the eighth inning as McNeely tripled and scored on an error by the center fielder. 

Up Next:

Walters State will close out the three-game series with Southwest Tennessee on Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics