No. 20 Senators sweep King JV in home opener

MORRISTOWN, Tenn. — Coming off their first conference series win last weekend, No. 20 Walters State took care of business on Wednesday in their home opener, sweeping a doubleheader against King University Junior Varsity 7-0 and 12-1 at Ken Campbell Field.

While struggling to hit the ball throughout both games, it was the Senators pitching that carried them, giving up just seven combined hits.

"I was pleased with our pitching," Walters State coach David Shelton said. "I was way more pleased with our pitching and defense than I was our hitting. Hitting has to get a lot better."

With the wins, Walters State improves to 16-7 on the season.

Caleb Pearson (1-0) got the start for the Senators in game one and was lights out on the mound. Pearson threw five no-hit innings, holding King scoreless. While Pearson did walk three, he was efficient, striking out seven.

It was Pearson's first start of the season, seventh appearance of the year, and was his first victory of the 2020.

"I thought Caleb gave us a good start in the first game," Shelton said. "It's probably the best he's pitched all year."

After giving up two hits to start the sixth, Pearson was replaced by Tanner Smith, making his fourth appearance of the season. Smith got out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth and then shut the door in the seventh to secure the 7-0 shutout win.

Nathan Hickman (3-1) took the mound for the Senators in game two and struggled early, giving up a run in the third inning that gave King a 1-0 lead.

However, Hickman did settle down, finishing with four innings pitched with only the lone run to go with four strikeouts. Jared Culp replaced him in the top of the fifth, throwing three innings to close the game out.

"Nathan wasn't as strong as I have seen him, but he battled," Shelton said. "By the end of his outing, he was back to what we have seen out of him a bunch. Culp came in and did what he does."

It was an offensive slog in the opening contest of the double-header for stretches. The Senators led 3-0 through five innings until a four run sixth inning gave them some breathing room.

Matthew Ellis built off his two-home run day on Sunday, leading the team with two hits and an RBI. Skylar Cannady knocked in two runs while Silas Butler also drove a run home.

After a slow start in game two, the offense finally got going in the bottom of the fourth. Bryce Hodge started the inning with a single and was moved to third on a double by Braydon Runion.

After Logan Hullette reached on an error, Gehrig Mosiello singled two home to make it a 2-1 game. Hullette was brought home on single by Butler. Three more runs scored before the end of the inning.

"We've been struggling (offensively)," Shelton said. "It's adversity, but baseball is filled with adversity so if you're going to play this game, you're going to have to learn how to battle and fight through it and keep a good attitude."

In the bottom of the sixth, the Senators put five more runs on the board. After three runs scored off of a wild pitch and two walks, Caleb McNeely scored two more on a single to left to make it 11-1.

Mosiello led the team in game two with three RBIs while McNeely and Butler added two apiece.

NEXT UP

Walters State will be back in action at Ken Campbell Field for their second conference series of the season against Jackson State this weekend. The first game is set for 1 p.m. Saturday with a doubleheader set for noon on Sunday.  

"Hopefully we have to get three starts on the mound, and we have to start swinging the bats better," Shelton said. "I thought the bats were better against Chattanooga State last weekend. I hope our guys are excited about a conference series at home."