No. 2 Senators split pair of shutouts in Georgia

EMERSON, Ga. — Second-ranked Walters State suffered a shutout loss in its opening game of a three-game set against Georgia Highlands Saturday afternoon, but they returned the favor in the second game of the doubleheader with a shutout win of their own.

The opening game was a pitcher's duel between Walters State's Alex Haynes and the Chargers' Dalton Rhadans, as both tossed a three-hitter but Rhadans picked up the win thanks to an unearned run scored by the home team in the fourth inning.

Both pitchers went the distance, with Rhadans striking out seven batters and walking one in the win on the turf at the LakePoint Sports Complex. Haynes (1-2) suffered his second straight loss in a quality start, as he followed a 2-1 loss at No. 1 Chipola last week by striking out five and walking three in six innings.

In the nightcap, it was Walters State's Kody Davidson and Blake Petty who got to shine, as Davidson worked 4 1/3 scoreless innings and scattered five hits while fanning six batters and walking four in improving to 2-0 on the year. Petty allowed a pair of hits and struck out five batters in 2 2/3 innings of relief to notch his first collegiate save.

With the split, the Senators are now 4-3 on the year, with two of those losses by a single run. The Chargers are now 8-2 on the year, with the loss in the nightcap snapping a six-game winning streak.

In the opener, Georgia Highlands' Parker Orr reached on an error in the fourth inning, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI single by Blake Brady for the lone run of the game. The Chargers left five runners on in the contest, while the Senators stranded four.

Skylar McPhee and Lavoisier Fisher both had singles in the win for GHC. Micahel Robinson had two hits with a double and Jerry Hammons added a two-bagger in the loss.

In the nightcap, Hammons and Bryce Hodge both had two hits in the win for the Senators, with Hammons and Silas Butler both tagging doubles, while Braydon Runion smashed a home run in the contest. 

After three scoreless innings, the Senators finally got on the board in the fourth frame, as Hammons doubled to lead off the inning and scored on an RBI single by Hodge. Austin Bibb and Mason Streater both added run scoring base hits in the frame to make it 3-0.

WSCC added a run in the sixth on Runion's two-out solo blast, and Butler doubled to lead off the seventh and scored on a base hit by Hammons, who scored the final run of the game on a balk.

The two teams will play the rubber game of the series Sunday. The nine-inning game is schedule for a noon first pitch.