Senators pick up 20 and 21st wins of the season; defeat USC Union

MORRISTOWN, TN – Led by Deniel Ortiz's four hits, No. 2 Walters State swept a doubleheader from USC Union on Wednesday afternoon. The Senators took game one by a score of 8-4 and game two by a score of 11-3. 

With the sweep, the Senators improved to 21-3 overall. 

Ortiz led the charge at the plate, with two hits in both games. In game one, Ortiz had two home runs and drove in four runs. Ortiz followed it up in game two with two hits, including a double. 

"I've just tried to stay back on the ball, see it and hit it," Ortiz said. "That was my approach today and has been to start the season." 

GAME ONE: No. 2 Walters State 8, USC Union 4

In game one, the Senators trailed 3-1 before scoring five runs in the bottom of second to secure the lead for good. 

Along with Ortiz's two home runs and four RBIs, Cooper Torres also hit a home run and drove in two runs. Corbin Shaw had two RBIs, as well. 

The three home runs put Walters State's total at 55 for the season, the nation's leader by five homers.

"This is probably the most fun I have had as a team," Ortiz said. "55 bombs in 24 games is amazing. Being in this lineup is very fun." 

On the mound, Landon Slemp (3-1) picked up the win with six innings of work. Slemp struck out 10 while allowing three runs on five hits. From the final out of the second inning to the first out of the fifth inning, Slemp struck out eight batters in-a-row. 

Johnny Stevens made his season debut and pitched the final inning, allowing one run on two hits. 

USC Union got the scoring started in the top of the first with a solo home run, but Walters State tied it in the bottom half of the inning when Shaw hit a sacrifice fly to score Caleb Marmo. 

USC Union went back on top in the top of the second with a two-run homer, but Walters State took the lead for good in the bottom of the second with five runs. Torres tied the game with a two-run shot, and Ortiz gave them a 6-3 lead with a three-run homer. 

In the fifth, Ortiz made it 7-3 with a solo shot before Shaw doubled in Torres in the bottom of the sixth. USC Union scored one in the top of the seventh, but that was all they could muster. 

GAME TWO: No. 2 Walters State 11, USC Union 3

In game two, the Senators fell behind early but for the second straight game secured the lead for good in the bottom of the second. 

At the plate, Ortiz had two hits while Kruise Newman had two hits and drove in three runs. Marmo also drove in two runs. 

Cooper Morgan (3-1) got the start on the mound for the Senators and picked up the win with five innings of work. Morgan allowed three runs on four hits while striking out seven.

Karson Bonaparte relieved Morgan in the sixth and struck out two before Taz Butler closed things out in the seventh. 

USC Union used a second inning home run to take the lead 2-0, but Walters State scored four in the bottom half to go ahead. Newman started it off with an RBI single before Angus Pence tied the game with an RBI single. Marmo gave Walters State the lead with a two-RBI double, making it 4-2.

USC Union got one run in the top of the third, but two more crossed the plate in the bottom half for the Senators when an error scored Shaw and Jackson Bryan hit a sacrifice fly. 

In the fifth, Newman made it 8-3 with a two-RBI single before three more crossed the plate in the sixth on a wild pitch and error, a hit by pitch with the bases loaded and a Zion Taylor sacrifice fly.

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Friday as they begin a TCCAA series at Chattanooga State. Friday's game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

"Our mindset is just trying to win," Ortiz said. "We just need to stay locked in as a team and play together as a team." 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics