SENATORS EXPLODE LATE; RALLY PAST HARFORD IN FIRST ROUND

Walters State exploded for ten runs in their last three at bats to defeat and upset minded Harford 12-6 in the first round of the NJCAA DI Baseball World Series in Grand Junction (CO).  The Senators found themselves looking at a 6-2 deficit going into the bottom of the sixth inning before tying the contest with four runs in the inning and then adding three more runs in both the seventh and eighth innings.  They advance in the winner's bracket to face the #4 seed Central Florida on Monday evening.

The Senators found themselves down early, but took their first lead in the fourth inning when Cole McCallum would single through the infield to score both Colby Backus and Noah Gent for a 2-1 lead.  Harford would strike for five runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-2 lead before the Senators bats came alive in the bottom of the inning.  With two outs in the inning, Gent would score on a bases loaded walk to Andrew Ott.  Caleb McNeely would clear the bases with a double to left which scored Kory Klingenbeck and Caleb Marmo ahead of Ott.  Walters would take the lead for good in the seventh as both Backus and Gent would score when Kilingenbeck and Landon Slemp drew bases loeaded walks.  Corbin Shaw would score the third run of the inning on a fielder's choice grounder. They would add three more in the eighth when Nick Block would score on a Backus double.  Backus and Gent would sscore the final runs on a Shaw single.

Walters had 12 hits in the game with Gent reaching base four times with three singles and a double and scoring four runs.  McNeely would have single and a double to go with 3 RBIs.  Block and Backus each had two hits with Backus scoring three times.  Geo Rivera would pick up the win in relief as he went the final four innings.  He would surrender two earned runs on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.  Jake Knapp started the game and went three innings, surrendering one run on three hits with no walks and five strikeouts.  Landon Crumbley went two innings, giving up three runs on three hits to go with two walks and two strikeouts.