Blalock homers twice in split with Pellissippi State

MORRISTOWN, TN – Drew Blalock homered in both games for No. 16 Walters State on Tuesday, and the Senators picked up a split with Pellissippi State. The Panthers took an 11-6 win in game one, with Walters State bouncing back with an 8-6 win in game two.

With the split, the Senators moved to 33-9 on the season. 

GAME ONE: Pellissippi State 11, No. 16 Walters State 6

In game one, Pellissippi scored in all but one inning to take the win.

Leading the way at the plate for the Senators was Blalock with a home run and two RBIs. Miles Shore, Jackson Berry and Jaxon Walker each collected two hits, and Hayden Blair walked three times. 

On the mound, Blalock got the start and got one out. He allowed two runs on three hits. Justin Bell replaced him in the first and threw the next three innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out four, and Ryan Smith allowed two runs on three hits in 1.2 innings.  Bridger Hamilton threw the final two innings, allowing five runs on five hits while striking two. 

Pellissippi State scored two in the first and one in the top of the third to go up 3-0, but Walters State got a run back in the bottom of the third when Walker doubled and scored on a Holden Pantier groundout. 

Pellissippi got the run back in the top of the fourth, but the Senators made it 4-2 in the bottom of the inning as Walker singled to score Shore. However, the Panthers answered with two in the top of the fifth to go up 6-2. In the bottom of the fifth, Blair walked with one out, and Blalock smoked a two-run homer to cut it to 6-4.

Unfortunately for the Senators, Pellissippi scored two in the sixth and three in the seventh to take an 11-4 lead. Walters State got two runs in the bottom of the seventh on a Kenny Cox single and Shore single, but that was all. 

GAME TWO: No. 16 Walters State 8, Pellissippi State 6

In game two, the Senators used a four-run sixth inning to take control and pick up the win. 

Blalock homered and had three RBIs in game two to lead the way, while Blair homered and drove in a run. Pantier knocked in two runs, as well, and Bell had two hits. 

On the mound, Brady Scott (3-0) made his first start since February 27 and threw three innings. Scott allowed two runs on two hits and struck out four. Colton Richards replaced Scott in the fourth and threw 1.2 innings, allowing one hit and striking out two. Sam Martell pitched the next 1.1 innings, allowing one hit and striking out four, and Lane Sharp and Ryan Perkins combined to pitch the final inning. 

Pellissippi State scored two in the top of the first, but Walters State got one back in the bottom of the inning when Blalock smoked a solo home run. In the third, Walters State took the lead when Pantier doubled to score Luke Graham and Blalock reached on a fielder's choice and scored Kole Fenton to make it 3-2.

In the fourth, the Senators added to their lead when Blair hit a solo home run. 4-2 was the score until the sixth, when Walters State scored four more to make it 8-2. Those runs came on a wild pitch that scored Bell, a bases-loaded walk to Pantier to score Blair, a sacrifice fly by Blalock that scored Graham and a Cox single that drove home Fenton. Pellissippi State got four in the seventh, but Perkins struck out the final batter to win the game. 

Up Next:

Walters State hosts Jackson State this weekend for another TCCAA matchup. Friday's game is set for 7 pm ET.