CHATTANOOGA, TN — No. 2 Walters State scored 17 runs in the final three innings on Friday, taking an 18-7 win over Chattanooga State.
With the win, the Senators improved to 22-3 overall and 3-1 in TCCAA play.
Kruise Newman had a monster day at the plate for the Senators with four hits, including a home run, and drove in seven runs.
Along with Newman, Kurtis Reid had three hits and four RBIs. Cooper Torres also had three hits and three RBIs, while Corbin Shaw hit a home run and drove two in.
On the mound, Brayden Matthews got the start and threw five innings. Matthews gave up two runs on three hits while striking out seven.
After Riley Franklin's 0.1 of an inning, Karson Bonaparte (1-0) pitched the final 3.2 innings and collected the win. Bonaparte allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits while striking out six.
It was Walters State who got on the board first as Keaton Ray singled in a run in the top of the second to make it 1-0.
However, Chatt State took control with two runs in the fourth and three in the sixth to lead 5-1. Needing a response, the Senators got it with five runs in the seventh. Those runs came on a solo shot by Shaw, a three-run double by Newman and a Will Cawthon RBI single that gave the Senators a 6-5 lead.
Chatt State tied the game with a run in the bottom of the seventh, but seven more runs crossed the plate for the Senators in the eighth to give them a 13-6 lead. Shaw started the scoring with an RBI groundout before Reid drove in two with a triple. Newman kept the rally going with an RBI single before Torres cleared the bases with a three-RBI double.
In the ninth, Reid singled two more home while Newman capped off his day with a three-run homer. Chatt State got one in the ninth, but 18-7 was the final score.
Up Next
Walters State and Chatt State will be back in action tomorrow for two games. Game one begins at Noon.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics