Senators comeback falls short in opening game of TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Finals

GALLATIN, TN – A four-run sixth inning was not enough for Walters State on Monday evening in their opening round game of the TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII finals as they fell to Columbia State, 8-6.  

With the loss, Walters State will now take on Motlow State at 2 p.m. ET tomorrow in an elimination game. Motlow fell to Dyersburg on Monday, 8-7.  

On Monday evening, Walters State was led at the plate by Caleb McNeely. McNeely had two hits, including a three-run bomb in the sixth inning that jump started the Senators offense. Along with McNeely, Jerry Hammons had a hit and two RBIs.  

On the mound, Kohl Drake got the start and took the loss. Drake pitched four innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out five. Drake was replaced in the fifth inning by Nathan Morris who pitched three innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on four hits while striking out six.  

Joey Mitchell pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth, allowing no hits and striking out three.  

It was Columbia State who got things started in the contest, scratching across a run in the first inning. However, the Senators responded as Lukas Cook came through with an RBI single in the second inning that tied the game at one.  

In the fourth, Columbia State added two more runs in the top of the inning on a two-run home run. Walters State would get a run back in the bottom half of the inning as Hammons was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, but Columbia State scored two runs in the fifth and six to give them a 7-2 lead. 

In the bottom of the sixth though, Walters State struck. First, it was McNeely as he crushed a three-run home run that made the score 7-5. Seconds later, Hammons cut the lead to one when he hit a home run over the fence in left field. Walters State had a chance to tie or take the lead later in the inning, but Nick Block struck out looking with the bases loaded for the final out.  

Unfortunately for the Senators, that was as close as they would come. Columbia State added one more in the eighth to give them a two-run lead. Walters State went down 1-2-3 in the ninth to end the game.  

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics