Fifth-ranked Senators open season with doubleheader sweep of USC Salkehatchie

ALLENDALE, SC – No. 5 Walters State opened the season on Sunday, sweeping a doubleheader over USC Salkehatchie. The Senators took a 22-5 win in eight innings in game one and a 13-6 victory in five innings in game two. 

With the wins, Walters State improved to 2-0 on the season.

GAME ONE: No. 5 Walters State 22, USC Salkehatchie 5 (8 Innings)

In game one, the Senators got seven runs in the first inning and seven more in the second inning on their way to the big win. 

Karson Bonaparte (1-0) got the start on the mound for Walters State, throwing two innings. Bonaparte didn't allow a hit, while striking out two. 

Miles Smith replaced Bonaparte in the third and struck out two in a scoreless inning, before Gage Peterson struck out two in an inning of work. Drew Horn pitched the fifth inning and struck out the side, while Ethan Walker pitched the sixth and struck out three but gave up five runs, four earned, on three hits. 

Ryan Bender pitched the final inning, striking out two while allowing one hit. 

At the plate, Brantley Bamberg got his Walters State career started off in a big way. Bamberg had two hits, one being a grand slam in the first inning, and drove in six runs. 

Along with Bamberg, Ethan Bosely had two hits and drove in three runs while Andrew Grande had three hits and knocked in three runs. Deniel Ortiz had two RBI, as well.

Things started quick for Walters State in the game, as Zion Taylor doubled home a run two batters in. The Senators made it 2-0 on a bases loaded walk to Logen Sutton, and Bamberg quickly made it 6-0 with his grand slam. Walters State got one more run in the inning, as Keaton Ray scored on a wild pitch.

In the second, Walters State tacked on seven more runs. Those runs came courtesy of a Bamberg two-RBI double, a Grande two-RBI double, a Reid RBI single, an Ortiz RBI groundout and a wild pitch that scored Taylor to make it 14-0. 

Walters State increased their lead to 19-0 in the third, as Grande had an RBI single, Taylor Harris singled home a run, Jack Vogele singled in a run, Ortiz had an RBI single and Bosely drove in a run. 

In the fifth, the Senators scored their final three runs of the game on a Bosely two-RBI single and a double play that scored him. Salkehatchie got five runs in the sixth but it was too little, too late. 

GAME TWO: No. 5 Walters State 13, USC Salkehatchie 6 (5 Innings)

In game two, the Senators scored in each inning on their way to the sweep.

Taz Butler (1-0) got the start for Walters State and threw two innings, striking out three while not allowing a hit. Following Jonny Stevens' one inning of work where he gave up five runs on two hits, Manning West gave up a run in the fourth but struck out two. Tyler Welch pitched the final inning, striking out the side. 

At the plate, Reid led off the game with a home run. He would add an RBI double in the second and then belted a grand slam in the fifth inning, finishing the game with six RBIs. 

Along with Reid, Taylor, Sutton and Jarrett Martin had two hits each, while Smith and Sutton each belted two-run homers.

Following Reid's home run to start the game, Sutton made it 3-0 four batters later with a two-run homer. 

In the second, the Senators added to their lead as Reid doubled and scored Vogele and Taylor doubled to score Reid. It was 6-0 after a Grande sacrifice fly in the third and 7-0 after a Martin RBI double in the fourth. 

Salkehatchie fought back in the bottom of the fourth with six runs, but Walters State put the game away in the fifth as Reid crushed a grand slam and Smith belted a two-run homer. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Friday, February 2, traveling to take on No. 14 Gaston College. Game one is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., with game two to follow at 4 p.m.

The two teams will return to Morristown on Saturday to play two more games, starting at 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