Seventh-ranked Lady Senators overcome 10-run deficit to sweep Columbia State

COLUMBIA, TN – No. 7 Walters State took a 16-2 win in game one on Sunday afternoon over Columbia State, before overcoming a 10-run first inning and grabbing a 14-12 win in game two.

With the sweep, the Lady Senators improve to 13-1 overall and 4-0 in TCCAA play. 

GAME ONE: No. 7 Walters State 16, Columbia State 2 (5 Innings)

In game one of the day, Walters State picked up where they left off on Saturday.

Tori Coffman (9-0) got the start in the circle and threw four innings. Coffman gave up two runs on two hits and struck out seven. Makayla Ramsey replaced Coffman in the fifth and pitched a clean inning, striking out one. 

At the plate, Haidyn Campbell and Sarah Evers each homered. Evers and Brooklyn Copley drove in three runs, while Kailey Dixon, Campbell and Olivia Neese each knocked in two runs. Neese and Evers had three hits, as well. 

The Lady Senators started the scoring in the top of the first, as Copley doubled to score two runs. Walters State added to their lead just a batter later, with Neese doubling home two runs and extending the lead to 4-0. Walters State scored one final run in the inning on a bases loaded walk.

In the second, Copley hit a sacrifice fly that scored Johnson and made it 6-0. Evers made it 7-0 later in the inning on an RBI single.

The third inning saw two more runs, as Campbell smacked her second home run of the season, a two-run shot that made it 9-0. Home run number two of the game came in the top of the fourth as Evers hit her first homer of the season. Evers' bomb was a two-run homer that made it 11-0. The Lady Senators scored one more run in the inning on a passed ball. 

Columbia picked up two runs on a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth, but Walters State got their final four runs of the game in the top of the fifth. Those came on a Imari Golden RBI single, a Dixon RBI single, a Nora Mack RBI double and an error that scored a run to make it 16-2. 

GAME TWO: No. 7 Walters State 14, Columbia State 12

In game two, the Lady Senators fell behind by double-digits after the first inning but completed an impressive comeback to snag the sweep.

At the plate, Abigail Taylor went a perfect 5-5 and scored five runs. Dixon had four hits, a home run, and three RBI, while Copley hit a homer and drove in three runs. Campbell had three RBI, while Mack had four hits and drove in two runs. 

In the circle, Emma Myatt got the start and gave up seven runs, five earned. Hayley Lawing replaced Myatt and pitched the next 5.1 innings, giving up five runs, four earned on nine hits while striking out four. Coffman pitched the final 1.1 innings and locked down the save, striking out the side in the seventh. 

Columbia struck first in game two of the day with 10 runs in the opening inning. The Lady Senators began their comeback in the top of the second with a Dixon two-run homer, however, Columbia State scored two in the bottom of the second to push their lead back to 10 runs.

But Walters State refused to go away. Following a scoreless third inning, Taylor got a run back on a delayed steal. Following an error that allowed Campbell to reach and scored Mack, Copley made it 12-6 with a two-run homer. It was her fifth home run of the season.

After getting Columbia 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Senators loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth. Mack drove in the first run of the inning with an RBI single, and Campbell knocked two more in with an RBI single that made it 12-9. The inning continued, and Neese made it a two-run game with an RBI single. 

In the top of the sixth, Walters State completed the comeback. The first run of the inning came on an error that scored Taylor and a Johnson RBI single tied the game at 12. Copley was up two batters later and continued her monster day with an RBI single that gave Walters State a 13-12 lead. 

The Lady Senators got their final run in the top of the seventh on a RBI bunt single by Dixon. Coffman struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to complete the sweep. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Wednesday, hosting a doubleheader against Roane State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics