MORRISTOWN,TN – It's always important to start strong in conference play, and Walters State made sure they followed that gameplan on Friday afternoon.
The Lady Senators got the bats going early against Motlow State and never stopped, dispatching the Lady Bucks, 9-1 and 12-4. Both games ended in the sixth inning.
With the sweep, Walters State moved to 10-4 overall and 2-0 in TCCAA play.
"It's huge to win two to start off conference play," Walters State coach Larry Sauceman said. "We need to come out tomorrow and get two more going into next weekend, which is a really big one. I thought we had a good day. We're just working to get better."
The Lady Senators used their bats in both games, combining for 21 runs in just 12 innings. Jessica Campbell led the way, going a combined 7-8 at the plate while Tatum Dye went 5-6.
"(Brianna) Beech had a home run, and (Tatum) Dye hit the ball well all day," Sauceman said. "(Jessica) Campbell had a good day too. I turned her loose, and she swung the bat and hit it over everything. That was good to see."
Game One: Walters State 9, Motlow State 1 (6 Innings)
In game one, Walters State used a seven-run bottom of the second to pull away from the Lady Bucks early.
The big inning started when Ava Brooks hit a sacrifice fly to score Jessica Odom, who singled to start the inning. Then, after Campbell singled in a run to make it 2-0, Kasey Bennett added two more runs, lining the ball to left field.
The rally concluded when Odom, up again with the bases loaded, cleared the bases with a three-RBI double.
After three straight scoreless innings, Motlow got on the board with a solo home run in the sixth. However, the Lady Senators answered back.
Campbell started the inning by reaching first on a bunt and then scored on a Dye hit down the first base line. Odom ended the game early three batters later when she hit a chopper over the first baseman to score Dye.
Campbell and Dye led the team at the plate with three hits each in game one while Bennett had two. Meanwhile, Odom had four RBIs.
Adrienne Morrison got the start in the circle for the Lady Senators in game one and threw five innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out seven. Morrison is now 3-1 on the season and has 27 strikeouts.
After Morrison gave a Motlow home run to lead off the sixth, Abigayle Holt replaced her in the circle and got the final three outs.
Game Two: Walters State 12, Motlow State 4 (6 Innings)
In game two the Lady Senators offense picked right back up where it had left off in game one.
Despite that, it was Motlow who got off to a quick start, scoring three runs in the top of the first. The Lady Senators responded in the bottom half with two runs as Beech scored a run on a fielders choice and Odom hit a sacrifice fly.
The Lady Senators took the lead in the bottom of the second as Campbell belted her first home run of the season, a two-run shot, way over the fence that made it 4-3 in favor of Walters State. The home run from Campbell tied her total from last season.
Motlow tied the game back in the top of the fourth with a solo home run, but that was the last time they scored.
Walters State took the lead back in the fifth when Brooks hit a ball in the gap to score Beech. Then, it was 7-4 in the fourth as Dye hit a ball off the fence to score Grayson Phipps and Campbell. Bennett then drew a walk before Beech made it 10-4 with a three-run homer. It was her fourth home run of the season.
The Lady Senators added one more in the bottom of the fifth when Bennett scored Halle Laramie and ended the game in the sixth as Phipps drew a bases-loaded walk.
Campbell was a perfect 4-4 in the game, knocking in two runs while Dye had two hits and drove in two runs. Beech also had two hits and four RBIs.
In the circle, Holt got the start and lasted three innings, striking out one while allowing four runs on four hits.
Holt was replaced in the top of the fourth by Allison Chandler who pitched the remaining three innings. Chandler struck out three in her appearance while not giving up a run.
Up Next:
Walters State will be back in action at home on Saturday for their final two games with Motlow State. First pitch is set for noon.
"We just need to come out and get them out early and put up some runs early," Sauceman said. "If we do that, we'll be ok I think."
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics