No. 20 Senators score 30 runs in doubleheader sweep of Jackson State

MORRISTOWN, Tenn. — The bats were in full swing for the second day in a row for No. 20 Walters State on Sunday afternoon at Ken Campbell field, as the won both games of a doubleheader over Jackson State 16-0 and 14-5 to sweep the series.

Walters State outscored the Green Jays 47-10 in the series, totaling 40 hits as well.

"The big thing for us is that we got our big hitters going," Walters State coach David Shelton said. "We returned so many guys that had good seasons last year, but they have had a hard time getting started. To get those guys going, that's big. We have to get them going to have success this year."

With the sweep, Walters State improves to 19-7 on the season and 5-1 in TCCAA play. It is their second straight conference series win to start the season and their sixth consecutive victory.

Keeping the momentum from Saturday, the Senators continued with the hot bats in game one on Sunday. Walters State had 16 runs on 15 hits, scoring multiple runs in every inning.

Jerry Hammons got the scoring going in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run to left to put the Senators up 2-0. Hammons wasn't done, however. After getting hit in the second inning, Hammons put his second home run of the game over the fence in left in the bottom of the third to give Walters State a 10-0 lead.

Hammons has had a good start to the year for the Senators, hitting .321 with four home runs and 13 RBI's.

Walters State hit five home runs in the game. Along with Hammons two home runs, Matthew Ellis hit his fourth of the year, Caleb McNeely hit a three-run home run, his fourth of the year and Seth Gardner hit a three-run home run.

The home run barrage continued in game two of the doubleheader as Bryce Hodge hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first to give the Senators a 3-2 lead.

With the home run, Hodge now has 37 RBIs on the season, which ranks second in the nation.

"Bryce is capable of being the best hitter in the country," Shelton said. "I fully believe that. I expect him to get a hit every time and maybe that is unfair expectations, but that is how good he is. When he gets out, it's because he gets himself out. Not because the pitcher got him out. That's how good of a hitter he is."

McNeely kept his hot hitting going in game two as well, clearing the bases with a 3-RBI double to give the Senators a 7-2 lead. Then, in the bottom of the fifth, McNeely was at it again, mashing a two-run homer over the batter's eye in center field.

McNeely had eight RBIs combined in both games to put him at 30 on the season, second on the team.

The Senators scored in all but one inning, the bottom of the second, in game two, notching 10 hits. Parker Stinnett had three hits in the game while McNeely had two.

The Senators pitching was solid in both games as well. In game one, Dillion Phillips (3-1) threw four innings, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out seven. Andrew Romanoli threw the final inning.

In game two, Jared Culp got the suprise start and threw four innings, striking out four and allowing five runs on six hits. Nathan Hickman finished the game out throwing the final three innings, striking out five and picking up his first save of the season.

While the pitching staff was solid, they did struggle with consistency at times. Phillips walked seven batters in game one and Culp and Hickman combined to walk five in game two.

"We have to throw more strikes," Shelton said. "Jared Culp did good in his outing because it was a surprise outing.  We didn't expect him to have to pitch. He has to throw a little more strikes though. We had eight or nine walks in the first game. You live dangerously doing that."

NEXT UP

Walters State will be back in action on Thursday at Ken Campbell field, taking on Milligan College Junior Varsity. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

"We have to get better," Shelton said. "They know they need to get refocused, and they will," Shelton said. "They'll keep getting better."