CHATTANOOGA, TN – Kaitlyn Harper wasn't ready for her season to end just yet. 

After falling in game one on Tuesday to No. 13 Volunteer State, 3-2, to move to the loser's bracket of the TCCAA/Region VII Tournament, No. 19 Walters State trailed 3-1 to Dyersburg State with two outs in the bottom of the sixth and two runners on. 

With one swing of the bat, Harper put the Lady Senators on top. 

Harper belted a three-run homer just over the fence in left-center that gave the Lady Senators the lead. Then, with no outs in the top of the seventh, she one upped it, catching a fly ball and throwing out the tying run at the plate. 

The tying run reached third again, but Ashley Milligan closed the door with a strikeout to end the contest and give Walters State a 4-3 victory. 

With the win, the Lady Senators will take on Cleveland State on Wednesday at 3 p.m. 

"That was huge," Walters State coach Larry Sauceman said. "To hit that home run and then throw the runner out at the plate, it doesn't get bigger than that. We had to have it. Credit to Harper for coming through."

GAME ONE: No. 13 Volunteer State 3, No. 19 Walters State 2

In game one, the Lady Senators left 11 runners on base as a solo home run in the sixth for Vol State proved to be the difference. 

Milligan got the start in the circle and was efficient. Milligan threw all six innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out five. 

At the plate, Harper led the way with two hits, including a double. Olivia Harris had the Lady Senators lone RBI.

It was Walters State that got the scoring going with two runs in the first inning. With two runners on, Jessica Odom singled to left. An error by the left fielder allowed Jessica Campbell to score and move Kasey Bennett to third and Odom to second. After Brianna Beech was hit to load the bases, Harris grounded out to score a run and make it 2-0.

However, that was all that would come across the plate for Walters State. Vol State scored a run in the fourth to cut the lead to 2-1 and had the tying run on third until Milligan got out of the inning with a strikeout. Vol State tied the game in the fifth with a run and then led off the sixth with a solo shot that gave them the 3-2 advantage. 

GAME TWO: No. 19 Walters State 4, Dyersburg State 3

In game two, Harper was the hero with her home run and play at the plate. 

Haper had two hits in the game and drove in three runs to lead the way once again. Maggie Johnson had three hits as well while Jessica Campbell reached based three times. 

In the circle, Adrienne Morrison got the start and threw three innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out six. After Allison Chandler got an out in the fourth, Milligan came in and threw the remainder of the game. She tossed 3.2 scoreless innings, striking out two. 

"She was great there down the stretch to finish it off," Sauceman said. "A really gutsy performance from her in the circle."

It was Dyersburg who struck first in the game with three runs in the third to go up 3-0.

Following a scoreless fourth, Walters State finally got on the board with a Johnson RBI single. Then, in sixth the Lady Senators put two on with a walk and single. After two outs, Harper came up and gave them the lead. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics