WALTERS SWEEPS HIGHLANDS; HEADED TO WORLD SERIES

The Walters State Senators punched their ticket to the NJCAA College World Series this week as they swept the Chargers of Georgia Highlands by 4-3 and 11-6.  The Senators are currently ranked #1 in the country with a 57-5 overall record.  The series will start on Saturday, May 28, at Sam Suplizio field in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Walters found themselves down early in game as 1 as Highlands took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.  The Senators would tie the score at 1 apiece when Noah Gent socred on an groundout.  Each team would score in the third with Caleb McNeely scoring on an infield error to tie the score.  

The Senators wwould take the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning when they scored two runs.  Nick Block would score the go ahead run on a sacrifice fly, and then Colby Backus would score when Dalton McClain ws hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Chargers would get a run back in the top of the eight inning, but Geo Rivera would come in and shut the door a comeback.

Walters would have seven hits in the contest with Backus reaching base three times with a double and two singles.  Gent and McClain each had two RBIs in the contest.  Kohl Drake got the win as he went 7 2/3 innings.  He surrendered three earned runs on eight hits with one walk.  He had 11 strikeouts.  Rivera finised the game, facing only four batters in 1 1/3 innings.  He gave up no hits and had one strikeout.

The Senators were the visitors in the second contest, and struck early with four runs in the top of the first inning.  McNeely led off the game with a home run.  Block would score the second run on a bases loaded walk, and Backus would then score on a fielder's choice.  Corbin shaw would score the final run on an Andrew Ott single.

The Chargers would get within 4-3 going into the sixth inning, but the Senators exploded with seven runs over the next three innings to take an 11-3 lead.  McNeely would drive in McClain with a single in the sixth before they exploded for five runs in the seventh.  Gent would score on a bases loaded walk, Kory Klingenbeck ould score on a Caleb Marmo sac fly, and then McClain and Ott would come home on a three run home run by McNeely.  They would tack on another run in the eight when Shaw homered.  

The Senators pounded out 12 hits in the game with McNeely leading the way with three hits which included the two home runs and the 4 RBIs.  Block, Gent, and Ott each had two hits in the game.  McClain would have two RBIs in the game.  Landon Crumbley came in the game in relief of starter Jake Knapp and picked up the victory.  He went 4 2/3 innings, surrendering three earned runs on six hits and two walks.  He struck out five batters.  Knapp went the first four innings, giving up three earned runs on four hits and four walks with seven strikeouts.  Joey Mitchell got the last out with no hits and one strikeout.

Walters will find out their first round opponent for the world series once all district championships are finalized.