Drake, Scott combined no-hitter lead No. 5 Walters State to sweep of USC Salkehatchie

ALLENDALE, SC – Kohl Drake and Wesley Scott combined for a no-hitter in game one of a doubleheader against USC Salkehatchie on Saturday afternoon as the Senators completed a season-opening sweep, winning both games 10-0 (six innings) and 11-0 (five innings). 

With the wins, Walters State improves to 3-0 on the season. 

At the plate, Caleb McNeely led the way once again with a home run and three RBI. He now has two home runs and six RBI through the first three games of the season. 

Colby Backus also shined at the plate, hitting a grand slam in game one. Backus finished the day with five RBI. 

Lastly, Jack Sutton capped off both games with home runs for his first two homers of the season. 

GAME ONE: Walters State 10, USC Salkehatchie 0

Drake and Scott stole the show in game one with their no-hitter.

Drake got the start and picked up his first win of the season, throwing three innings and striking out eight. Drake actually struck out four in the first inning, with one Salkehatchie batter reaching base on a dropped third strike. 

Scott picked up where Drake left off in the fourth inning, pitching the final three innings and striking out five to collect the save. 

As for the offense, the Senators were on from the first batter of the game as McNeely continued his great start to the season, belting a ball over the fence to make it 1-0. 

Just two batters later, Noah Gent made it 2-0 as he hit his first home run of the season over the fence in left. 

The Senators and Indians would go scoreless for the next two innings before the Senators offense regained its momentum. Corbin Shaw got it going first in the fourth inning as he led off the inning with his first home run of the season.

In the fifth, Walters State broke the game open with six runs. McNeely scored the first run of the inning on an error by the third baseman. Then, after Shaw walked to load the bases, Andrew Ott came around to score on a passed ball.

Nick Block would then walk to load the bases back up before Backus hit his first home run of his collegiate career, a grand slam over the fence in left to make it 9-0. 

Walters State added one more run in the sixth as Sutton hit his first collegiate home run to lead off the inning. Scott closed things out in the bottom of the inning for the victory. 

GAME TWO: Walters State 11, USC Salkehatchie 0

In game two, the offense waited two batters this time before getting on the board as Ott hit his first home run of the season to make it 1-0 early.

Two batters later, it was 2-0 as Gent walked and Shaw doubled him home. Walters State added one more run in the first as Backus singled home Shaw.

In the second, Walters State scored five more times. McNeely got things going as he doubled in Kory Klingenbeck, who walked to start the inning, and Dalton McLain, who singled the batter before. 

Gent was next to knock in a run as he doubled home McNeely to make it 6-0. Gent wasn't on the basepath long as Shaw was next up and tripled Gent home. Block capped off the scoring in the inning when he singled in Shaw that gave Walters State an 8-0 lead. 

Gent added two more runs in the fourth when he singled in McNeely and Ott in and the final run came when Sutton hit his second home run of the day in the fifth inning.

Jake Knapp made his first start of the season on the mound for Walters State and picked up the win after a two-inning outing that saw him strikeout three.

Landon Crumbley replaced Knapp in the third and struck out two in a 1-2-3 inning before making way for Gio Rivera in the fourth. Making his first appearance for the Senators, Rivera struck out one in an inning of work.

Landon Slemp finished things off in the fifth with a scoreless inning. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action at home next Friday, February 4, against Lake Land College. The Senators will play a doubleheader on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for Friday is set for 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