No. 2 Walters State dominates in season-opening win over USC Salkehatchie

ALLENDALE, SC – No. 2 Walters State fell behind in the second inning on Friday afternoon in their season-opening game against USC Salkehatchie but rallied off 22 unanswered runs as they eased to a 22-1 win. 

With the victory, Walters State improved to 1-0 on the season.

At the plate, the Senators totaled 14 hits and hammered four home runs. Keaton Ray led the way with two hits, including a grand slam, and 5 RBIs. Followed closely behind Ray was Jarrett Martin with two hits, including a two-run shot, and four RBIs.

Kio Lugo and Preston Pache also hit home runs in the game, Lugo's a three-run shot and Pache's a two-run homer. 

Other contributors for Walters State were Kruise Newman with two RBIs and Corbin Shaw, Zion Taylor, Deniel Ortiz and Preston Wright with one RBI each. Cooper Torres also had two hits in the game. 

On the mound, Landon Crumbley (1-0) got the start and picked up the win. Crumbley pitched three innings, allowing one run on two hits and struck out two. 

Coming in relief of Crumbley was Landon Slemp who put together an impressive line with seven strikeouts in three innings. He allowed just one hit and no runs. 

Ryan Bender followed Slemp with a scoreless inning in the seventh before Karson Bonaparte and Taz Butler each struck out the side in their inning of work to close out the game. 

USC Salkehatchie got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the second, but Walters State answered with five in the top of the third. The runs came courtesy of an error by the catcher, a two-run double by Newman, an RBI single by Ortiz and an RBI single by Ray. 

In the fourth, five more runs came across for Walters State as Shaw hit a sacrifice fly and Ray broke the game open with a grand slam that made it 10-1. 

In the sixth, the five-run trend continued as Martin singled home two runs and Lugo hit a three-run homer to make it 15-1. Pache and Martin then each hit two-run homers in the seventh to make it 19-1.

The final three runs for Walters State came in the eighth as Taylor walked with the bases loaded to score a run, Pache grounded out but drove a run in and Wright hit a sacrifice fly. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action against USC Salkehatchie for two more games on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics