Lady Senators pick up midweek sweep over Southwest Virginia

MORRISTOWN, TN – No. 4 Walters State peppered the ball over the fence on Wednesday afternoon, taking a doubleheader over Southwest Virginia with 16-0 and 11-0 victories. 

With the win, the Lady Senators improved to 32-0 on the season. 

It was a joint effort for Walters State as every available player saw action in the game. 

"It was so great seeing people come off the bench and hit," Walters State catcher Jules Johnson said. "Some of the girls haven't had a chance to play a lot, but they came out here and hit the ball. It's just great to see everyone put hits together."

Over the two games, Walters State hit 12 home runs to up their season total to 71. That total ties them for the nation lead with Southern Idaho. 

"We can do that every time," Johnson said about the home run onslaught. "If we believe in ourselves and get up there and swing, we're so good at everything. Not just hitting, either. We have pitching, defense. We have it all." 

GAME ONE: No. 4 Walters State 16, Southwest Virginia 0 (5 Innings) 

In game one, Brianna Beech, Kasey Bennett and Jules Johnson each hit two home runs while Tatum Dye smacked one out to lead the Lady Senators to the win.

Bennett had three hits in the game and drove in four runs, while Johnson knocked in four runs. Ava Brooks and Kailey Dixon had three hits each, while Beech had three RBIs. 

In the circle, Tori Coffman got the start and allowed just one hit while striking out two. Ashley Milligan replaced Coffman in the fourth and pitched the final two innings, striking out three. She didn't allow a hit. 

The scoring started early for the Lady Senators as Bennett smacked her first home run of the game in the bottom of the first to make it 2-0. Halle Laramie made it 3-0 later in the inning with an RBI single before Brooks drove in two runs on a triple. 

In the second, the Lady Senators picked up where they left off as Johnson smacked a three-run homer to make it 8-0. Beech followed up two batters later with a solo shot. 

In the third, the Lady Senators got back-to-back-to-back home runs by Bennett, Johnson and Dye that made it 13-0. The Lady Senators picked up two more runs in the inning on a Beech two-run homer and then got their final run in the fourth on a Haidyn Campbell RBI single. 

GAME TWO: No. 4 Walters State 11, Southwest Virginia 0 (5 Innings) 

In game two, Bennett hit the 50th home run of her career as the Lady Senators cruised to another win. 

Bennett's solo homer in the second was her 15th of the season. She had 14 in her first year and 21 last season. 

Along with Bennett, Dixon, Brooks, Jayden Salts and Sabrina Fox each homered. Dixon, Bennett, Brooks and Salts all knocked in two runs apiece. 

In the circle, Abigayle Holt got the start and threw a complete game. Holt allowed five hits but no runs while striking out two. 

Following a run in the first on a Dye RBI single, the Lady Senators broke the game open with five runs in the second. Those runs came on a Brooks two-run homer and back-to-back homers by Dixon and Bennett. Dixon's was a two-run shot. 

In the third, four more runs crossed the plate as Beech hit an RBI single, Salts mashed a two run homer and Bennett hit an RBI double that made it 10-0.

The final run came in the fourth as Fox launched a homer over the fence in center. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Saturday for an important road series against No. 14 Volunteer State. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is set for 4 p.m. ET. 

"We just need to get in there and be confident and swing at strikes," Johnson said. "If we do that and have good at bats and approach, we'll be good." 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics