Fifth-ranked Senators split doubleheader with No. 14 Gaston College

MORRISTOWN, TN – No. 5 Walters State picked up a much-needed 7-6 win on Saturday afternoon against No. 14 Gaston, before falling in the second game by a 9-3 score.

With the split, Walters State moved to 3-3 on the season. 

"We made a lot of mistakes," Walters State coach Dave Shelton said. "When you're playing a good team and are playing them four games, every mistake is magnified. We're on short pitch counts so when you're making some mistakes, it might lead to less innings that pitcher is able to perform. I take a lot of responsibility for this weekend. We probably could have had our guys built up to this weekend, but it was just the perfect storm with the snow and having the schedule moved up this past weekend.

"They're a good team and a team I could see in Grand Junction. You have to be at the top of your game to beat a team like that, and we weren't. It's got to be a learning experience and we have to learn from our losses and mistakes because the road doesn't get easier." 

It was a good weekend for the Senators starting pitchers, despite short pitch counts. Karson Bonaparte, Taz Butler, Manning West and Gage Peterson combined to give up just one earned run over the four games against Gaston.

"I was really excited about them," Shelton said. "And I was really excited about a lot of our bullpen guys that came in. Our starters were really good this weekend. Bonaparte, Butler and Manning West were really, really good. That excites me." 

GAME ONE: No. 5 Walters State 7, Gaston College 6 (8 Innings) 

In game one, Walters State got up 6-0 early, gave up six runs in the middle innings but then scored in the bottom of the eighth to walk the game off in extra innings. 

Zion Taylor was the star at the plate for the Senators in the game with a home run, double and three RBI. Deniel Ortiz and Jarrett Martin homered, as well, while Logen Sutton and Brantley Bamberg each had doubles. 

On the mound, Manning West got the start and threw three innings. West allowed one hit but struck out five. 

Rowan Park replaced West in the fourth and threw two innings, giving up three runs on three hits. Jonny Stevens pitched the next 2.1 innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on one hit. Walker Morgan got the final two outs of the top of the eighth and picked up his first win.

After struggling to score on Friday, the Senators started with a bang on Saturday. Gaston got the first two batters out, but Ortiz and Martin hit back-to-back home runs to make it 2-0. Sutton doubled after, and Bamberg doubled off the right-field wall to score Sutton and make it 3-0.

Following a Taylor double in the second that scored Nate Conner, Taylor added two more in the fourth with a home run to make it 6-0.

However, Gaston answered back with three in the fifth and three in the sixth to tie the game at six. That was where the score remained until the bottom of the eighth, as Keaton Ray walked, Andrew Grande was hit by a pitch, Nate Conner walked and Kurtis Reid walked with the bases-loaded to score the winning run.

GAME TWO: No. 14 Gaston 9, No. 5 Walters State 3 (5 Innings)

In game two, the Senators scored two runs early but struggled in the middle innings again. 

Gage Peterson got the start for Walters State in game two, throwing two innings. Peterson gave up one run on two hits and struck out five.

Ethan Walker replaced Peterson in the third and pitched two innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on six hits. He struck out four. William Wexler followed Walker and gave up three unearned runs, before Matthew Porchas got the final out of the inning. 

At the plate, Walker Morgan had two hits while Martin hit his second homer of the day. Jack Torbett had a double, as well.

Gaston started the scoring with a run in the first, but Walters State took the lead in the second as Martin homered and Taylor Harris grounded out to score Morgan. 

However, Gaston scored eight unanswered runs to take a 9-2 lead. The Senators got one more run after Torbett doubled and scored on an Ethan Bosely single in the fifth. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Friday, February 9, traveling to play Chipola College. First pitch is set for 11 a.m., with a game against Gulf Coast State to follow at 1:30 p.m. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics