Knapp, Drake throw complete game shutouts to sweep Southwest Tennessee

ARLINGTON, TN – Jake Knapp and Kohl Drake threw 14 scoreless innings on Saturday against Southwest Tennessee, allowing just three hits while striking out a combined 25 batters as No. 2 Walters State swept Southwest Tennessee 3-0 in both games. 

With the sweep, Walters State improved to 30-3 on the season and 10-1 in TCCAA play.

For the season, Knapp is now 9-0 with a 0.43 ERA. He has struck out 66 batters in 42.1 innings of work. 

Meanwhile, Drake is now 7-0 on the season with a 1.18 ERA. He has struck out 75 batters in 45.2 innings pitched.

Game One: Walters State 3, Southwest Tennessee 0

In game one on Saturday, Drake got the start and allowed just two hits while striking out 14 as the Senators took the victory. 

Drake allowed a hit in the second and a hit in the fourth, but that was it as he struck out the side in the fifth inning and in the seventh inning. 

Nick Block led the way at the plate for Walters State, going 3-for-3 with an RBI while Noah Gent hit his fifth home run of the season. As a team, the Senators had seven hits in the game. 

The Senators took the lead in the top of the second in game one as Gent hammered his home run to make it 1-0. In the third, Walters State added their final two runs as Block singled home Declan Wiesner and McCallum singled in Colby Backus. 

Game Two: Walters State 3, Southwest Tennessee 0 

In game two, it was Knapp's turn to shine on the mound as he struck out 11 in his complete game shutout.

Knapp had a no-hitter going with two outs in the bottom of the seventh before giving up a single. Knapp struck out the final batter to seal the victory. 

It was Caleb McNeely and  Backus' turn to lead the way at the plate for the Senators in game two as they both hit home runs. McNeely's two-run shot was his 13th of the season, tying him for first in the NJCAA. Backus' was his ninth of the season, tying him for 12th in the NJCAA. 

It was Backus who got the scoring going in game two with his solo home run that put Walters State up 1-0. McNeely gave Knapp two insurance runs in the sixth as he hit a two-run bomb after Kory Klingenbeck singled to start the inning. 

Up Next: 

Walters State will be back in action on Wednesday, hosting a doubleheader against USC Union. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics