18-run second inning propels No. 8 Walters State to sweep of Cleveland State

MORRISTOWN, TN – 76 runs in four games. 

That is what the Walters State offense has put up in the last two days after scoring just four runs over the weekend.  

Tuesday afternoon against the King University JV team, the Senators scored a combined 39 runs in a sweep. And on Wednesday, they did just as well. 

Facing Cleveland State, No. 8 Walters State put up 24 runs in game one, including 18 in the second inning, and 13 in game two as they swept the Cougars 24-3 and 13-1.  

"I think we're just getting more reps now and getting on the field," Walters State coach Dave Shelton said. "Facing Chattanooga State (this past weekend), it had been 10 days since we last saw live pitching. It's hard to go out and expect your guys to put up runs when they're facing 93 mph without any reps. We've had a whole week now of getting work in, and I think that is really paying off now."  

With the win, the Senators improve to 10-1 on the season and are 3-1 in conference play. Jerry Hammons led the way for Walters State with a combined five hits and six RBI's. Hammons hit two home runs as well.  

Hammons is one of two players who came back this year for their third year and has made a huge impact already, hitting .400 with three home runs and 15 RBIs. 

"Him and Silas (Butler) are our two guys who played in the World Series in 2019 so they know what it takes to get there," Shelton said. "They've definitely taken on a leadership role, and it's definitely been huge for us. I am expecting big things out of them."  

NO. 8 WALTERS STATE 24, CLEVELAND STATE 3 

In game one against the Cougars, Walters State's offense picked right up where it left off on Tuesday against King.  

The Senators totaled 20 hits in the game and 24 runs. Matthew Ellis led the way with four hits and four RBIs while Cam Fisher and Andrew Ott had three hits and Caleb McNeely, Hammons, Alberto Osuna and Skylar Cannady each had two hits. Lukas Cook also had four RBIs.  

While the Senators came out red hot as Ellis tripled in two runs and Fisher singled in a run in the bottom of the first, it was the second inning that blew Cleveland State out of the water. 

In the bottom of the second, the Senators had 22 batters come to the plate, scoring 18 runs in the process. The first out didn't come until the 11th batter of the inning and Ott reached base three times in the inning. McNeely and Osuna both hit 3-run home runs during the inning as well.  

"That was just one of those innings where those don't come along very often," Shelton said. "Every ball we hit found a hole. We had a good approach at the plate. Give our guys credit, they did a good job."  

After that inning, it was smooth sailing for the Senators. Walters State added three more runs in the third when Ellis singled home Gent and Cook reached on an error that scored two runs.  

While the offense was doing their thing, the pitching wasn't too shabby as well. Nolan Letzgus got the start on the mound and threw three innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out eight. Letzgus is now 2-0 on the season.  

Joey Mitchell replaced Letzgus in the fourth inning and finished the game off, allowing one run on two hits while striking out two.  

NO. 8 WALTERS STATE 13, CLEVELAND STATE 1 

Game two saw a lot of the same for Walters State as they scored in every inning on their way to the lopsided win.  

Hammons led the way offensively with three hits, two being home runs, and four RBIs while his fellow third year Silas Butler had two hits, one being a home run, and two RBIs. Fisher and McNeely had two RBIs each as well.  

The Senators got things going early as Osuna and Noah Gent both knocked in runs in the first. In the second, the Senators extended their lead with two two-run home runs, one by Butler and one by Hammons. That made it 6-0. 

In the third, Walters State hit two more two-run home runs, one by Fisher and one by Hammons again, and McNeely singled home two runs in the inning. Nick Block capped off the scoring with a double in the fourth that scored Gent.  

On the mound, it was a one-man show as Andrew Romanoli picked up his first win of the season with a complete game. Romanoli struck out six in the game and allowed just two hits. He was in line for the shutout until a two-out home run in the fifth spoiled it.  

UP NEXT:  

Walters State will be back in action this weekend as the Senators travel to take on Roane State. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. In their first contests this season, Walters State was victorious 6-4 on a walk off grand slam from Osuna and 4-2.  

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics