Lady Senators score late to earn split against Gadsden State

MORRISTOWN, TN – Walters State got the bats out on Sunday against Gadsden State, salvaging a split against the Lady Cardinals. The Lady Senators lost 8-6 in game one but bounced back with a 12-8 win in game two. 

With the split, the Lady Senators moved to 17-17 on the season.

GAME ONE: Gadsden State 8, Walters State 6

In game one, the Lady Senators scored five runs in the final two innings but could not complete the comeback. 

At the place, Alayna Ross homered and drove in three runs, while Kacey Pillion had two hits and two RBIs. 

In the circle, Summer Smith got the start and threw an inning. Smith allowed four runs on four hits. Lauren Ruehl replaced Smith and threw the next four innings, giving up four runs on three hits while striking out five. Brianice Silguero then got an out before Carla Burge allowed just two hits in 1.2 innings. 

Gadsden State scored four runs in the top of the first, but Walters State got a run back in the bottom of the fourth when Ross smacked a home run over the fence in center. The Lady Cardinals answered back with four runs in the fifth to go up 8-1, but Walters State would not go away. In the sixth, Brittanie Layton singled, moved to second on an Addison Beech single and to third on a Kacey Pillion single that loaded the bases. That brought up Ross, and she doubled in two runs to make it 8-3. Nyah Mullins was next up, and a sacrifice fly from her scored another run to make it 8-4.

In the seventh, the Lady Senators put two on with two outs, and Pillion came through with a two-RBI double to cut it to 8-6. Unfortunately, that was as close as Walters State would get. 

GAME TWO: Walters State 12, Gadsden State 8

In game two, Walters State used a five-run sixth inning to steal the win.

Mullins had three hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs, while Beech picked up three hits. Brenna Hunley had two hits and drove in four runs, while Silguero had three RBIs. 

In the circle, Allie Jones got the start and threw two innings. Jones allowed four runs on five hits. Burge replaced Jones and threw the next 1.2 innings, allowing four runs on four hits, and Smith pitched the final 3.1 innings. Smith allowed no runs and struck out two. 

Gadsden scored two runs in the top of the first, but Walters State answered back with two runs in the bottom of the inning when Beech walked and Mullins homered over the fence in left. The Lady Cardinals retook the lead with two runs in the second, but Walters State grabbed its first lead of the day with four runs in the third. Layton again got things going with a single, and she scored when Mullins singled to center. Following a base hit from Ross, Silguero hit a sacrifice fly that scored Beech to tie the game at four. Hunley was next up, and she singled in two runs to give the Lady Senators a 6-4 advantage. 

However, Gadsden regained control with four runs in the fourth. The Lady Senators cut the lead to one in the bottom of the inning on a bases-loaded walk by Silguero, and then took the lead with five runs in the sixth. Beech singled to open the inning, and Mullins doubled to send her to third. After a walk to Ross loaded the bases, the Lady Senators tied the game at eight on a wild pitch that scored Beech. Silguero gave the Lady Senators the lead for good on a fielder's choice, and Hunley followed with a two-RBI double that made it 11-8. The final run of the inning came when Hunley scored on a wild pitch to make it 12-8.

From there, Smith got a strikeout and a double play in the seventh to end the game. 

Up Next:

Walters State is back in action this week, taking on Cleveland State in a doubleheader.