No. 11 Senators split Sunday doubleheader in Sumter

SUMTER, S.C. — Walters State split a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon to wrap up play in Sumter, S.C., taking down WVU Potomac 6-5 before falling to USC Sumter 6-4.

With the split, the Senators move to 11-5 on the year after going 3-1 this weekend.

The Senators used a three-run bottom of the fifth in game one against WVU Potomac to steal the win, totaling 11 hits in the contest as well. Bryce Hodge, Seth Gardner and Michael Robinson each had two hits while Jerry Hammons hit his first home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 5-4 game. Hodge led the team with two RBIs.

Trailing 5-4 in the fifth, Hammons led the inning off with the home run. Then, Braydon Runion tied the game with a double, scoring Hodge. Later in the inning, the Senators took the lead on a sacrifice fly from Gardner.

Dillon Phillips got the start for the Senators, throwing 4.2 innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits. Phillips struck out three before turning it over to Nathan Hickman (1-0). Hickman threw the final two innings, not allowing a hit and striking out one to pick up his first win of the year.

In game two, it was a six-run bottom of the fourth that did Walters State in as they were never able to recover. Runion, Max Riemer and Parker Stinnett each had two hits to lead the team. Stinnett had two RBIs in the game as well, one coming from a bunt single in the top of the fourth, and the other coming from a double in the sixth that closed the gap to 6-4.

Ben Joyce (2-1) got the start on the mound for the Senators, throwing 3.2 innings, allowing five runs on two hits and striking out six. Jared Culp replaced him with two outs in the fourth, throwing 2.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits.

NEXT UP

Walters State will be back in action on Tuesday, staying in South Carolina as they take on Spartanburg Methodist in a doubleheader. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 1 p.m. with game two coming right after at 3 p.m.