No. 3 Walters State pulls off impressive comeback to complete sweep of Chattanooga State

MORRISTOWN, TN – No. 3 Walters State showed the composure of a team that can win a national title on Tuesday afternoon against Chattanooga State. 

After easily dispatching the Tigers 9-1 in game one of the doubleheader, it was Chattanooga State who jumped all over Walters State in game two, building an 8-3 lead. However, what happened next, was an example of what has made the Senators so successful this year.  

First, it was a Lukas Cook two-run homer to start off the bottom of the sixth and then Jerry Hammons followed that up with a two-run home run that made it a one-run game. The very next batter was Matthew Ellis and on the first pitch, he hit a ball as far as anyone has hit one this year to tie the game. The Senators plated the go-ahead run in the eighth and held on for the 9-8 win and a sweep.  

"Several times this year, we have come from behind when we're trailing late in the game," Walters State coach Dave Shelton said. "I told them before the year started that they have to have the mentality that they are going to win every single game no matter the situation. That's what championship teams do. They believe wholeheartedly that they can win the game no matter what the score is. We've been known to have some big innings and that five-run inning in the sixth saved us. It was good."   

With the win, Walters State improves to 23-1 on the year and 11-1 in conference play. They have now won 17 straight games after falling on Feb. 21 to Chattanooga State for their only loss of the season.  

For Shelton, three of their last four games have been close games so to see them gut those out have been huge. 

"It's really good to see," Shelton said. "You can really tell what kind of heart your team has in games like that. Normally, teams would quit down by a bunch. Our guys have just been sticking to the gameplan. I am really proud of them."  

NO. 3 WALTERS STATE 9, CHATTANOOGA STATE 1  

It was a quick start for Walters State as they scored six runs in the first inning on their way to the pretty easy victory.  

Hammons led the way for the Senators with two hits, a home run and three RBIs. After hitting four home runs last week, Hammons followed that up with an impressive doubleheader as he also homered in the second game.  

Hammons now leads the NJCAA with 12 home runs and is hitting .429.  

"When Jerry is going good, his approach just has to be a little better," Shelton said. "It doesn't even have to be perfect because he has such a great approach. Sometimes he swings at bad pitches and hits them out of the park. He is a fabulous hitter, and he is doing it well right now."  

Along with Hammons in game one, Cam Fisher drove home two runs. 

Hammons started the scoring for Walters State, doubling home Caleb McNeely. Then Matthew Ellis singled in Hammons to make it 2-0. After Alberto Osuna got on, Fisher doubled home two runs and it was 4-0. Nick Block and Silas Butler capped off the scoring with RBI singles.  

After an error scored another run in the third, Hammons finished off the scoring for the game with a two-run blast in the fifth. 

On the mound, Kohl Drake got the start and was superb, throwing six shutout innigns while striking out 10.  

"He has been phenomenal," Shelton said. "Now that he is in throwing shape, he's the real deal. He has been good for us. He is giving us a huge boost."  

Brayden Matthews threw the final inning of the game, striking out one.  

NO. 3 WALTERS STATE 9, CHATTANOOGA STATE 8 

Before the furious five-run rally in the sixth inning, the scoring got started for Walters State in the first inning when Ellis hit his first of two home runs in the bottom of the first that put the Senators up 3-2.  

Ellis led Walters State in the game with two hits and four RBIs. Along with him Hammons and Cook both had two RBIs while Cook had three hits and McNeely had two.  

Walters State lone run not off a home run came at the perfect time for the Senators. With the scored tied at eight in the bottom of the eight, Skyler Cannady walked to start the inning and then took second and third on consecutive passed balls. McNeely then singled him home to score what proved to be the winning run.  

On the mound, Nolan Letzgus got the start but pitched just one inning before Peyton Calitri replaced him, throwing 1.2 innings of his own.  

After those two, Andrew Romanoli came in and saved the game, throwing 5.1 scoreless innings and improving his record to 4-0.  

"I am proud of Andrew Romanoli coming in out of the bullpen and how he pitched," Shelton said. "Today was the first day I felt he was back at full strength, and he looked really good."  

Nathan Hickman closed the game out in the ninth for his third save of the season. 

UP NEXT: 

Walters State will be back in action on Saturday as they get set to take on Cleveland State. That doubleheader is set to begin at 1 p.m.  

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics