No. 5 Walters State split final two games at NFCA Leadoff Classic

COLUMBUS, GA – No. 5 Walters State walked off North Dakota State College of Science 5-4 to open up the day on Sunday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, before falling 9-2 to No. 11 Gulf Coast State.

With the split, the Lady Senators moved to 10-7 overall.

GAME ONE: No. 5 Walters State 5, North Dakota State College of Science 4

In game one of the day, Randi Delong hit a sacrifice fly that scored Imari Golden in the bottom of the seventh to walk things off. 

Delong hit her eighth home run of the season in the game and drove in three runs. For the season, Delong is hitting .436 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs. 

Along with Delong, Golden had three hits in the game and scored two runs while Kendal Mason walked twice, doubled and drove in a run. 

In the circle, Allie Jones got the start and threw 1.1 innings. Jones allowed three runs on five hits and struck out two. Alayna Ross replaced her with an out in the second and threw the final 4.2 innings. Ross allowed one run on four hits and struck out one. 

The Lady Senators got on the board first in the game, as Delong smacked a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. North Dakota State College of Science got a run in the second and two in the third to take a 3-2 lead, but Walters State answered back in the bottom of the fifth as Golden scored on an error to tie the game and Mason doubled home Olivia Neese to give the Lady Senators a 4-3 advantage. 

In the top of the seventh, North Dakota tied the game on a sacrifice fly and had the go-ahead runner on third with two outs. However, Ross got a strikeout to get out of the inning and keep the game tied. In the bottom of the seventh, Golden led things off with a single and moved to third on a double by Neese. After Addison Beech walked to load the bases, Delong flew out to right but scored Golden to win the game. 

GAME TWO: No. 11 Gulf Coast State 9, No. 5 Walters State 2

In game two of the day, Walters State fell in their seventh game in three days. 

Makayla Ramsey got the start in the circle and threw 2.2 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits while striking out two. Lauren Ruehl replaced Ramsey with two outs in the third and pitched the final 4.1 innings. Ruehl gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits and struck out one. 

At the plate, Neese had an RBI while Golden walked twice and scored twice. Mason also had a hit and two walks. 

Gulf Coast scored one in the first and two in the top of the second to go up 3-0, but the Lady Senators got on the board in the bottom of the second as Golden scored on a double steal.

However, Gulf Coast scored four in the third to go up 7-1. The Lady Senators cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth as Neese singled home Golden, but Gulf Coast scored two more in the sixth and took the win. 

Up Next:

Walters State will travel to take on No. 23 Gaston College on Tuesday. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 pm ET.