Johnson mashes three home runs in Lady Senators sweep of Cleveland State

MORRISTOWN, TN – Jules Johnson was on a mission Friday afternoon during No. 5 Walters State's doubleheader against Cleveland State.

In game one, Johnson mashed a home run and singled in another run as Walters State took a 7-2 win over the Cougars. In game two, Johnson smacked two more home runs with the last one ending the game in five innings, 9-1. 

With the two wins, Walters State improved to 39-1 on the season and 23-1 in TCCAA play. 

"Two more wins is always good," Walters State softball coach Larry Sauceman said. "I thought we really got after it in the second game. Jules (Johnson) was really smacking the ball today. She was great. We walked some people in the circle but also struck out a lot and did a good job. We're just going to keep on going into tomorrow." 

GAME ONE: No. 5 Walters State 7, Cleveland State 2

In game one, Tori Coffman walked eight but struck out 16 as she won her 21st game of the season to go with zero losses. Coffman is now at 203 strikeouts on the season. 

At the plate, Johnson and Brianna Beech each had two hits, while Halle Laramie hit a three-run homer. Beech also hit her 17th homer of the season. Laramie's was her 11th of the season. 

Cleveland State got on the board first with a bases loaded walk in the first, but the Lady Senators answered back as Laramie smacked a three-run homer. 

In the second, the Lady Senators added another run as Johnson singled home Abigail Taylor to make it 4-1. Walters State added one more run in the third as Beech smacked a home run. 

Cleveland State scored one more time in the top of the fifth on a bases loaded walk, but Johnson smacked a solo homer in the fifth while Kailey Dixon singled home a run in the sixth to make it 7-2. 

Coffman struck out the side in the seventh to end the game. 

GAME TWO: No. 5 Walters State 9, Cleveland State 1 (5 Innings) 

In game two, the Lady Senators got the offense rolling in the middle innings as Johnson smacked a home run to end the game early. 

Johnson had two homers and five RBIs in the game to lead the way. Johnson now leads the team with 20 home runs on the season. 

Along with Johnson, Kasey Bennett hit her 19th home run of the season and drove in three runs. 

In the circle, Ashley Milligan (17-1) got the start and threw five innings. She allowed one run on two hits while striking out eight. 

Following two scoreless innings to start, the Lady Senators got on the board in the bottom of the third as Johnson clubbed a two-run homer over the fence in center. 

The Lady Senators upped their lead to 5-0 in the fourth as Bennett drilled a three-run homer. In the fifth, Cleveland State got a run but Dixon scored one on a sacrifice fly and Johnson ended the game with a three-run bomb. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action for two more games on Saturday afternoon against Cleveland State. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics