MORRISTOWN, TN – Walters State broke out the bats on Wednesday afternoon against Georgia Highlands, totaling 23 runs as they swept a doubleheader 10-0 and 13-5. 

With the sweep, the Lady Senators improved to 31-9 overall.

For Walters State coach Larry Sauceman, the doubleheader sweep was good momentum heading into a big weekend against No. 19 Dyersburg State.

"Our players are trying to get there," Sauceman said. "This weekend is huge. It could make a difference for everybody. That's what you play for. Hopefully we can get on it a bit and get hot at the right time." 

GAME ONE: Walters State 10, Georgia Highlands 0 (6 Innings) 

In game one on Wednesday, Ashley Milligan was lights out in the circle as she improved her record to 13-0 with the victory.

In her six innings of work, Milligan allowed just two hits and struck out a season-high 14 batters. Milligan now has 27 strikeouts in her last three appearances.

"She's been pitching really well the last few weeks," Sauceman said. "She's doing a really good job. We need her this weekend." 

At the plate, Kasey Bennett, Brianna Beech and Tatum Dye all hit home runs. Beech's was a grand slam that ended the game in six innings. 

Along with those three, Jessica Campbell had three hits and two stolen bases while Jessica Odom and Sarah King each had two hits and a stolen base.

It was Dye who got the Lady Senators on the board first in game one as she hammered a solo home run in the bottom of the second. 

Walters State added one more in the third on a bases loaded walk that scored Bennett and then broke the game open with three runs in the fourth. Those runs came courtesy of a Bennett three-run bomb, her 17th of the season, that made it a 5-0 game. 

Following a scoreless fifth, the Lady Senators ended the game early with five runs in the sixth inning. Odom scored the first run on a sacrifice fly that scored King before Beech hammered her grand slam that finished the game off.

GAME TWO: Walters State 13, Georgia Highlands 5 (5 Innings) 

In game two, the bats kept it up with 13 hits and 13 runs on their way to the victory.

In the circle, Abigayle Holt got the start and threw three innings, allowing five runs, three earned, on six hits. Allison Chandler pitched the final two innings, allowing just two hits and striking out one. 

At the plate, Odom and Kaitlyn Harper each homered as Campbell had three more hits. Maggie Johnson also had three hits and three RBIs. 

The Lady Senators got after it early in game two with six runs in the first inning. The Lady Senators scored five runs on four straight at bats as Beech had an RBI single, Dye had an RBI single, Johnson had a two-RBI single and Ava Brooks hit a sacrifice fly. The final run of the inning came on a Campbell single that drove home Johnson. 

Walters State added one more run in the second on a Johnson RBI double and three more in the third. Those runs came on an Odom two-run homer and Brooks RBI groundout.

Georgia Highlands made it a 10-5 game in the top of the fourth, but the Lady Senators ended it in the fifth as Harper belted a two-out, three-run home run.

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action this weekend as they host No. 19 Dyersburg State for their final home series. First pitch of Friday's doubleheader is set for 2 p.m. 

"We just have to put it all together this weekend," Sauceman said. "We just need to be on our game." 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics