Fenton leads No. 13 Walters State to split with Columbia State

NASHVILLE, TN – No. 13 Walters State fell 10-9 in nine innings in the opener against Columbia State on Friday, but the Senators bounced back with a 17-5 win in six innings in game two. 

With the split, the Senators moved to 32-7 overall and 15-5 in TCCAA play.

GAME ONE: Columbia State 10, No. 13 Walters State 9 (9 Innings)

In game one, the Senators scored two runs in the top of the ninth but could not hold onto the lead. 

At the plate, Kole Fenton led the way with two hits and three RBIs, while Holden Pantier hit a home run and drove in two runs. Miles Shore had two hits, as well.

On the mound, Major Osbolt got the start and threw six innings. Osbolt allowed five runs, two earned, on three hits and struck out seven. Lane Sharp (3-3) replaced Osbolt in the seventh and threw the final two innings. Sharp allowed five runs on seven hits and struck out two.

It was a 0-0 game until the third when Luke Graham walked, and Pantier singled him home to make it 1-0. In the fourth, the Senators added to their lead. Kenny Cox led off with a single, and Shore followed with a single. After Jackson Berry walked to load the bases, Justin Bell singled to score two runs and make it 3-0. Three batters later, Fenton stepped up and increased the lead to 5-0 with a two-RBI single. 

Columbia State answered back with three runs in the fifth, but Walters State picked up two more runs in the seventh as Pantier smacked a solo home run and Graham walked with the bases loaded to score Cox and make it 7-3.

Unfortunately, the Chargers scored four in the bottom of the seventh to send things to extra innings. The two teams failed to score in the eighth, but Walters State charged ahead with two runs in the top of the ninth, one coming on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded while the other run scored on a passed ball.

However, Columbia fought back and scored three in the bottom of the ninth to win the game. 

GAME TWO: No. 13 Walters State 17, Columbia State 5 (6 Innings)

In game two, Fenton went a perfect 5-5 at the plate to lead the way. 

Fenton doubled, homered, drove in three runs and scored three runs in the contest. Along with Fenton, Pantier and Hayden Blair also homered. Pantier now has 15 home runs and 73 RBIs on the season, while Blair leads the team with 16 home runs. 

Kenny Cox drove in four runs in the game, and Drew Blalock had two hits and scored three runs. 

On the mound, Tim Tyler (7-2) got the start and picked up the win. Tyler allowed five runs on seven hits and struck out six. Colton Richards threw the final inning, a 1-2-3 sixth-inning to end the game. 

The Senators wasted no time in game two, as a Blair walk and Blalock single in the first put two on with two outs. Cox was next up, and he doubled to score both runners and make it 2-0. In the second, the Senators doubled their lead as Fenton doubled with two outs and scored on a Pantier two-run home run. 

Columbia cut the lead to one with three runs in the bottom of the second, but Walters State loaded the bases in the top of the third for Graham. Graham would walk to drive in Blalock, and Fenton followed up with a two-RBI single that made it 7-3. The Chargers scored two in the bottom of the third to make it 7-5, but Jackson Berry doubled in Cox and Blair in the top of the fourth to get those runs back.

In the fifth, Fenton smoked his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot that made it 10-5. Walters State put two back on the basepath later in the inning with a Blair double and Blalock walk, and Cox doubled them both home. Shore was next up, and he singled in Cox to make it 13-5. 

Walters State's final four runs of the game came in the top of the sixth. Pantier got it started with a sacrifice fly that scored Graham, and Blair followed with a three-run home run to make it 17-5. Richards picked up three quick outs in the bottom of the inning, and Walters State took the win. 

Up Next:

Walters State is back in action on Saturday, taking on Columbia State for one more game. The game is scheduled for 11 am CT.