11th-ranked Senators split doubleheader with No. 6 Florence-Darlington

MORRISTOWN, TN – No. 11 Walters State failed to get the bats going to start Wednesday's doubleheader against No. 6 Florence-Darlington but found fire in game two to split the day. The Senators fell 1-0 in game one but took an 8-2 win in game two.

With the split, Walters State improved to 33-10 on the season. 

"It definitely was a fun series," Walters State pitcher Luke Ferguson said. "We don't get a lot of that in the midweek, so it was fun to play a great ball team."

GAME ONE: No. 6 Florence-Darlington 1, No. 11 Walters State 0

In game one, Florence-Darlington used five pitchers to hold the Senators to just four hits. 

Walters State also had their pitching going in the game, as Drew Horn (1-2) got the start and threw 4.1 innings. He allowed an unearned run on three hits and struck out eight. Rowan Park replaced Horn with an out in the fifth and pitched 2.2 innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.

At the plate, Deniel Ortiz, Jack Vogele, Keaton Ray and Brantley Bamberg each had hits. 

The Senators' best chance in the game came in the bottom of the third. After Flo-Dar scored their only run in the top of the inning, Ortiz was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. Vogele singled after, but Ortiz was thrown out at the plate. Logen Sutton then reached on an error to put two on, but a flyout ended the inning and threat. 

Walters State had one more chance in the seventh, as Bamberg pinch hit and singled with two outs. However, a groundout to shortstop ended the game. 

GAME TWO: No. 11 Walters State 8, No. 6 Florence-Darlington 2

In game two, Walters State got more great pitching and got the bats going to split the doubleheader.

Gage Peterson got the start on the mound and gave up two runs on four hits in two innings of work. Luke Ferguson (3-1) replaced Peterson in the third and threw the next three innings. Ferguson allowed no runs on two hits and struck out three.

"I felt like I just put all my trust in my coaches and pitches and went out and attacked hitters and the zone," Ferguson said. "My mindset was just doing what I was meant to do and just trusting the preparation throughout the week. I just tried to go out there and do what I was supposed to do."

After Ferguson, Aiden Robertson pitched the final two innings. Robertson allowed no runs on two hits and struck out two.

As a pitching staff, Walters State allowed just three runs on 12 hits in 14 innings and struck out 18 batters. 

"That's a big thing," Ferguson said. "We're going to need all these arms, and we just tried to execute. We did that today, so good job by everybody."

At the plate, Ortiz led the charge again with two home runs and three RBI. Ortiz got the offense going in game two, hitting a two-run homer in the first after Flo-Dar took an early lead. 

"I was just waiting on my pitch and trying to see the ball," Ortiz said. "They had good arms today, so I was just trying to get us on the board early and get us right. When I start hot, I feel like the team follows. Whenever you're going against good pitching like this, you have to prepare more and be confident and locked in at the plate." 

As Ortiz said, the team followed his lead after the early home run. Vogele, Sutton and Zion Taylor all homered in the game, as well.

Flo-Dar got on the board first, but Ortiz's two-run bomb made it 2-1 Senators. Walters State added another run in the second, as a fielder's choice by Nate Conner scored Walker Morgan to make it 3-1. 

Flo-Dar cut the lead to one in the third with an RBI double and had that runner on second with no outs. However, Ferguson came in and picked off the runner at second before getting the next two guys out. 

The Senators gave Ferguson some insurance in the bottom half of the third, as Vogele and Sutton hit back-to-back solo homers to make it 5-2. Ortiz added to the lead in the fifth with a solo homer, and Taylor clubbed a ball over the fence later in the inning that just stayed fair for a two-run home run to make it 8-2. 

"I think we just started early in the game," Ortiz said about the success in game two. "When we start early, we just keep on going. We didn't get going early in game one and couldn't get the clutch hits late, but we got going early in game two and it carried through the entire game."

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action this weekend on the road against Roane State. First pitch for Friday's nine-inning game is set for 2 p.m. 

"We just have to come out there and hit the ball and throw pitches in the zone," Ferguson said. "If we do that and execute, I think we'll be fine." 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics