Millsaps College -- Walker Thrash's walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 9th inning lifted Millsaps to a 12-10 victory over arch-rival Southwestern on Sunday afternoon as the Majors avoided a three-game sweep by the Pirates. Showing a flair for the dramatic, the Majors' John Fox, who surrendered two grand slams to Southwestern in Saturday' 8-5 first game loss, led off the last of the 9th with a scorching double to the left centerfield gap. Pinch-runner Ryan Skertich entered the game for Fox but was thrown out at third base on a K.K. Aldridge ground ball to the Pirates' shortstop. Matt Yglesias' double down the rightfield line then allowed Aldridge to advance to third before Brandon Page was given a free pass to first base to set up a possible double play situation for Southwestern. But Thrash had other plans in mind as he launched a 2-1 pitch in gargantuan fashion over the right centerfield fence to seal the win.
With Thrash's heroics, the Majors (17-4) and (10-3) clinch a spot in the SCAC tournament and climb to within a half-game of Southwestern (26-2) and (10-2) for the conference lead. For the afternoon, Thrash was 4 for 6 with a double, 2 home runs, 3 runs scored and 7 RBI to pace the Majors, while Yglesias added a 3 for 5 outing with 2 doubles, a home run, 3 runs scored and 1 RBI for the Majors. For Southwestern, Nick Diaz and Ben Jones each homered for the Pirates. Nick Gilbert worked the 9th inning and was credited with the win for Millsaps, while Chris Robinson suffered the loss for Southwestern.
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1 2 3
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4 5 6
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7 8 9
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R H E
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Southwestern
(26-2)
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0 0 1
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0 1 3
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1 4 0
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10 14 1
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Millsaps
(17-4)
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0 0 2
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0 3 1
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0 2 4
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12 14 3
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Trombley, Schnapper (5), Watzek (7), Robinson (9) and Paul
Garner, Kirkpatrick (6), Gilbert (9) and McCain
W- Gilbert (1-0) L- Robinson (4-1)
2B- Southwestern: Paul, Mascorro
Millsaps: Thrash, Fox, Yglesias (2)
HR: Southwestern: Jones, Diaz
Millsaps: Yglesias, Thrash (2)
