Coffman, Lawing combine for no-hitter in No. 8 Walters State’s doubleheader sweep of Jackson State

JACKSON, TN – Tori Coffman and Hayley Lawing combined for a no-hitter in game one against Jackson State on Saturday afternoon, as Walters State swept a doubleheader. The Lady Senators won 10-0 in game one and 9-4 in game two. 

With the sweep, the Lady Senators improved 18-2 overall and 9-1 in TCCAA play.

GAME ONE: No. 8 Walters State 10, Jackson State 0 (6 Innings)

In game one, Coffman threw five hitless and scoreless innings while Lawing finished the no-hitter off with a clean sixth inning. 

Coffman struck out 11 of the 16 batters she faced in her outing. Lawing struck out two of the three batters she faced in the sixth inning. 

At the plate, Olivia Neese had three hits and four RBI to lead the way. Imari Golden had two RBI, as well.

The two teams remained scoreless until the top of the fourth, when Neese singled home two runs. Sarah Evers made it 3-0 two batters later with a sacrifice fly, and it was 4-0 on an RBI single by Abigail Taylor. 

The Lady Senators added a run in the fifth on a Neese RBI single that made it 5-0. In the sixth, Walters State doubled their total with five runs. Those runs were courtesy of two bases loaded walks, an RBI single by Neese and a two-RBI single by Golden.

Lawing set them down in order in the bottom of the sixth, and that was the win and no-hitter.

GAME TWO: No. 8 Walters State 9, Jackson State 4

In game two, Walters State trailed by a run after the first inning but scored six unanswered runs to take the doubleheader sweep.

Lawing got the start and win in the circle in game two, throwing three innings and allowing four unearned runs. Lawing gave up just two hits and struck out one.

Coffman replaced Lawing in the fourth and pitched the final four innings. Coffman struck out nine and didn't allow a hit, picking up her second save of the season.

For the season, Coffman is now 11-1 and has allowed just five earned runs in 69.1 innings. She has 134 strikeouts on the season, good for second in the country. She's also second in the country with a 0.50 ERA. 

At the plate, Nora Mack had two doubles and two RBI while Neese knocked in two more runs. Jules Johnson had two RBI, as well. 

It was an offensive heavy first inning, as Walters State scored three runs and Jackson State scored four. The Lady Senators' runs came on a Mack RBI double, a Johnson RBI single and a Brooklyn Copley RBI double. 

Jackson State held the one-run lead until the third, when the Lady Senators scored two more runs to take a 5-4 lead. Those runs came on a Carley Cook two out, two-RBI single. 

In the sixth, the Lady Senators scored their final four runs of the game on a Mack RBI double, a Johnson RBI double and a Neese two-RBI double that made it 9-4. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action for two more games at Jackson State on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics