Osbolt, Tyler combine for 20 strikeouts in TCCAA/Region 7 Tournament win over Chattanooga State

COLUMBIA, TN – Major Osbolt and Tim Tyler allowed just three hits and struck out 20 on Thursday in the TCCAA/Region 7 Baseball Tournament, and top-seeded Walters State went on for a 6-1 win over fifth-seeded Chattanooga State. 

With the victory, the Senators improved to 47-10 on the season. Walters State will now play Columbia State Friday at 11 am CT. 

Osbolt (7-1) got the start on the mound for the Senators and threw six innings. He allowed one unearned run on three hits and struck out 14. Osbolt lowered his ERA to 3.73 and hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 15 innings. He's got 28 strikeouts during that timeframe, as well. 

Along with Osbolt, Tyler was just as good in his three innings of work. Tyler allowed no hits and struck out six, picking up his third save of the season. 

At the plate, Kenny Cox led the way with two hits and two RBIs. Holden Pantier picked up two hits and scored two runs, and Jackson Berry and Brady Dalton both drove in a run. 

The Senators wasted no time in the game, scoring two in the opening inning. Pantier walked with one out to get things started, and Hayden Blair singled to put two on. Pantier then scored on a wild pitch, and Cox singled home Blair a batter later to make it 2-0.

Osbolt struck out two in the second and the side in the third to keep the score at 2-0, and Walters State added two more runs in the bottom of the third. Drew Blalock and Cox walked to start the inning, and Miles Shore moved them both up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Berry was next up, and he grounded out to third but scored Blalock to increase the lead. The Senators weren't done in the inning, as Dalton then stepped up and singled home Cox to make it 4-0.

Osbolt found himself in trouble in the fourth, loading the bases with one out and allowing a run to score on a hit by pitch. However, Osbolt settled down and struck out the next two batters to work out of the jam. Osbolt then struck out the side in the fifth and two in the sixth to keep things at 4-1. 

In the seventh, Tyler entered after a leadoff double for Chattanooga State. Tyler picked up a strikeout and two groundouts, and Walters State got some insurance in the bottom of the inning with two runs. Pantier led off with a double, and after two flyouts, Cox singled him home to make it 5-1. Shore followed with a single, and a double steal allowed Cox to slide in safely at the plate to make it 6-1. 

From there, Tyler was never troubled as he struck out the side in the eighth and two in the ninth to pick up the win.