Senators continue to roll, down USC-Salkehatchie 21-2 and 19-2 in Sunday doubleheader

WALTERBORO, S.C. — Building off their 12-run performance on Saturday, the No. 3-ranked Walters State baseball team did not slow in a doubleheader Sunday against USC Salkehatchie, sweeping the Indians 21-2 and 19-2.

The Senators (3-0) combined for 34 hits in both games and struck out 17. Dillion Phillips (1-0) and Ben Joyce (1-0) each picked up their first wins of the season on the mound.

Caleb McNeely was the star in Game One for Walters State, going 4-for-6 at the plate with 8 RBIs. In the fifth inning, with the bases loaded, McNeely unloaded on a ball, hitting it out of the park for a grand slam. That pushed the Senators' lead to 12-0 in the fifth inning.

However, McNeely wasn't finished. In the seventh, McNeely came up with the bases loaded again and delivered one more time, hitting his second grand slam of the game to make it 21-0.

Along with McNeely, Bryce Hodge, Braden Runion and Matthew Ellis each knocked in two runs. Reunion tripled in two runs in the fifth inning. Parker Stinnett also stepped up, knocking in five runs. Stinnett hit a two-run home run in the second to get the scoring going, singled in the fifth to score two runs and walked in a run in the seventh.

With all the run support, Phillips was in a groove on the mound, throwing four innings. He allowed just three hits and no runs. Sam Sutton pitched a scoreless inning before Matt Dailey closed it out with two innings.

Game two was more of the same for the Senators. Logan Hullette was the offensive force for Walters State, knocking in five runs. After walking in a run and singling in a run in the third, Hullette brought in runs in the fourth and sixth with base hits.

The Senators batted around in the third inning, scoring 11 runs on six hits. Hodge capped off the inning with a grand slam, the third on the day for Walters State. Hodge had 4 RBI on two hits.

Michael Robinson knocked in three runs and Matthew Ellis drove in two. Walters State had 19 hits in the game and drew 10 walks.

Joyce got the start for the Senators, going three innings. Joyce allowed no runs on one hit and struck out six. Nolan Letzgus threw a scoreless fourth inning before Nathan Hickman threw two scoreless. Hudson Ross and Jarrod Culp closed it out.

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Walters State will be back in action on Friday as they travel to take on Chipola College. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.