Millsaps College -- Majors' hurler Chat Lenhart scattered 3 hits and allowed one run in tossing his first complete game of the year Tuesday afternoon as Millsaps emerged a 4-1 victor over cross-town rival Belhaven College in the first meeting of the 2003 Cowboy Maloney Series. The Maloney Series, which was won by the Majors last year in its inaugural campaign, is the baseball series between the Jackson area's three small colleges — Belhaven, Millsaps and Mississippi College.
Lenhart engaged in a scoreless pitching dual through 6 1/2 innings with Blazer counterpart Daniel Hearn and struck out eight Belhaven batters while walking just one as Millsaps improved to 2-1 on the young season.
The Majors drew first blood in the bottom of the 7th frame when Bo Roberts ripped an RBI single to right field to score Scott Staines from third base. Millsaps then pushed across three more tallies in the bottom of the 8th inning when Stuart Phillips scorched a line-drive double down the right field line to plate two runs. Staines followed with an RBI double to score Phillips, making the score 4-0 at the end of eight innings of play.
Drama unfolded in the top of the ninth as Lenhart allowed the bases loaded with no outs. Facing Belhaven's Allen Williams, Lenhart allowed his only run as he forced Williams to ground out to MIllsaps' shortstop Matt Yglesias. Then, with runners at second and third, Lenhart got Blazer pinch-hitter Hunter Ogden to line into an inning-ending double play to notch the victory.
About the Cowboy Maloney Series:
Millsaps, Belhaven, Mississippi College
The team with the best record at the end of the nine games claims the Maloney Trophy, created by the Maloney Family in honor of the late Cowboy Maloney, a Jackson businessman and baseball enthusiast.
Feb. 11: Millsaps d. Belhaven 4-1
Feb. 18: Millsaps d. Belhaven 4-3
Feb. 25: Miss. College at Belhaven
March 4: Millsaps at Belhaven
March 25: Belhaven at Miss. College
March 31: Millsaps at Miss. College
April 9: Belhaven at Millsaps
April 15: Miss. College at Belhaven
April 21: Millsaps at Miss. College
