CLEVELAND, TN – Walters State won their 28th and 29th games of the season on Friday afternoon, sweeping Cleveland State to start the weekend, 4-1 and 10-7.

With the sweep, the Lady Senators improved to 29-9 overall and 19-5 in TCCAA play. 

GAME ONE: Walters State 4, Cleveland State 1

It was the Ashley Milligan show in game one on Friday as she pitched a complete game to pick up the victory.

Milligan allowed just one run on three hits in the game and struck out a season-high 10 batters.

At the plate, Kasey Bennett led the way with two hits and two RBIs while Halle Laramie had two hits and an RBI. 

Cleveland State got on the board first in the game with a run in the bottom of the first on a solo homer. The lead would not last long, however, as the Lady Senators tied it in the top of the second. That run came courtesy of an error that allowed Jessica Odom to score. 

The Lady Senators scored the final runs of the game in the top of the fourth. Bennett drove home two of the runs on a two-RBI single that gave Walters State a 3-1 lead. The final run came as Laramie, the next batter, singled in Jessica Campbell.

The final threat from Cleveland State came in the sixth as the Cougars loaded the bases with one out. However, back-to-back strikeouts from Milligan ended the threat and kept the score at 4-1. 

GAME TWO: Walters State 10, Cleveland State 7

In game two, Walters State used a five-run sixth inning to break a 5-5 tie on their way to the victory.

In the circle, Allison Chandler got the start and threw two innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Abigayle Holt replaced her in the third and threw an inning, allowing an unearned run before being replaced by Milligan in the fourth. Milligan threw the final four innings, allowing three runs on three hits. 

At the plate, Odom was the hero with two home runs, including a go-ahead homer to lead off the sixth. 

Along with Odom, Campbell and Bennett each had two hits with Bennett driving in two runs while Campbell scored three runs. Campbell also stole two bases while Bennett stole one. 

Brianna Beech also homered in the game. 

The Lady Senators were the first to strike in game two with a run in the top of the first. Tatum Dye drove in the run with an RBI double that drove in Campbell. 

Cleveland State responded in the bottom half of the inning with two runs to take a 2-1 lead. The Cougars then scored two more in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead before Walters State answered with four of their own in the fourth.

The scoring in the fourth started as Odom lined a two-run home run over the fence that made it 4-3. Beech was the next batter and tied the game with a solo shot. The final run of the inning came as Bennett singled in Campbell to make it 5-4 in favor of Walters State. 

Cleveland State briefly tied the game back up at five in the bottom of the fifth but, once again, the Lady Senators answered. This time, it was five runs in the sixth. 

Once again, Odom led off the scoring with a home run, a solo shot, that gave Walters State the lead back at 6-5. Bennett increased the lead to two with a sacrifice fly before a fielder's choice by Laramie and groundout by Dye scored runs to make it 9-5. The final run came as Grayson Phipps singled in a run.

Cleveland State scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth but that was all as the Lady Senators held on. 

Up Next: 

Walters State will be back in action on Saturday for two more games against Cleveland State. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics