CHATTANOOGA, TN – No. 2 Walters State split a doubleheader against Chattanooga State on Saturday afternoon. The Senators won game one by a score of 13-8, before dropping game two by a score of 11-10 in extra innings.
With the split, the Senators moved to 23-4 on the season and 4-2 in TCCAA play.
GAME ONE: No. 2 Walters State 13, Chattanooga State 8
In game one, Walters State set the tone with five runs in the first and four in the third as they hung on for the win.
Cooper Torres led the way at the plate with four hits, including a home run, while Jarrett Martin hit two solo home runs. Kruise Newman and Kurtis Reid also homered, while Cole McCallum had three hits and drove in two runs.
On the mound, Landon Crumbley (7-0) got the start and picked up the win. Crumbley allowed seven runs, five earned, on five hits and struck out four. Bradley Gagen replaced him in the sixth and pitched the final two innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit. He struck out two.
The Senators started quick in the game as McCallum doubled in Caleb Marmo and Keaton Ray doubled with the bases loaded, scoring all three runners to make it 4-0. The final run of the inning came on a Newman single that scored Ray.
Chatt State responded with three runs in the bottom of the second, but Walters State got solo home runs from Reid and Martin and a McCallum RBI double and Corbin Shaw sacrifice fly that made it 9-3.
In the fifth, two more runs scored for the Senators as Torres hit a solo home run and Deniel Ortiz singled home McCallum. The Tigers cut the lead in the bottom half of the inning with four runs to make it 11-7, but Walters State got solo homers from Newman and Martin to make it 13-6. Chatt State got one in the sixth, but that was all.
GAME TWO: Chattanooga State 11, No. 2 Walters State 10 (8 Innings)
In game two, the Senators overcame an 8-0 deficit but couldn't finish things off as they fell in extra innings.
McCallum led the way in the game with two hits, including a grand slam, and four RBIs. Along with McCallum, Shaw had two hits.
On the mound, Jackson Hull got the start and threw two innings. Hull gave up six runs, but only two earned, and struck out two.
Taz Butler replaced Hull in the third and threw three innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits while striking out three. Blake Cooper pitched the next two innings, allowing two unearned runs, before being replaced by Ty Cobb. Cobb got an out in the eighth before Cooper Morgan replaced him.
It was all Chatt State early in game two as they scored eight runs in the first three innings to lead, 8-0. Needing a response, the Senators got it in the fourth with seven runs. Will Cawthon got the scoring started with an RBI single before Marmo walked with the bases loaded. After Ortiz was hit by a pitch to score another run, McCallum made it 8-7 with a grand slam.
Chatt State added a run to their lead in the bottom of the fifth, but the Senators tied the game at nine in the sixth as Shaw doubled in Marmo and Ortiz scored on a wild pitch.
The two teams remained tied at nine and sent the game to extra innings where the Senators briefly took a 10-9 lead on an error that scored a run. However, an RBI single and passed ball gave Chatt State two runs in the bottom half of the eight and ended the game.
Up Next:
Walters State will be back in action on Thursday, hosting WVU Potomac State for two games. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics