JACKSON, Miss. - After dropping out of the top 25 last week, the Millsaps Majors Baseball team showed they belong back in the national rankings, going 4-0 this week and completing a three game sweep over the LaGrange Panthers Sunday afternoon at Twenty Field.
The Majors got things started in the bottom of the first as senior Jeremy Aliff led things off with a walk and moved over to second after a passed ball. After a deep fly ball by junior Jules Roussel moved Aliff to third, senior Will Hawkins reached on a throwing error by LaGrange shortstop Brent Kinsey which scored Aliff and gave Millsaps a 1-0 lead.
Senior Jason Riggins got the start for the Majors striking out five batters in the first three innings, however, LaGrange responded with a run of their own in the third. Matt Hvizdzak led things off with a single and moved to third base off a single by Kevin McCrary. After a strike out, David Miller of the Panthers drove home the run to tie the game up.
After a scoreless fourth, the Panthers went on top in the top of the fifth. Kinsey started it off with a singled and stole second base to get into scoring position. Robbie Shelton came to the plate and struck out swinging, but the ball got away from sophomore catcher Wes Perkins. A bad throw went off the glove of junior Drew Respess and Kinsey came all the way around to score and give LaGrange the 2-1 lead.
LaGrange added an insurance run in the seventh inning as Shelton drove in McCrary to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead to chase Riggins and bring in senior lefty Jake Mills who got the Majors out of the inning with one pitch.
Going into the bottom of the eighth, the Majors had only had five hits and one run. After a quick out, Hawkins got things started with a single and advanced to second on a field error on Hvizdzak. Mills ripped a line drive into right field to make it first and third with one out. Junior Ryan Zemke came in to pinch run for Mills. After a ground out by senior Josh Ordeneaux put the runners on second and third, Head Coach Jim Page called upon sophomore Stephen Gates to pinch hit. Gates worked the count to three balls and one strike before blasting a line drive right up the middle to score both runs and tie the game at three.
The Majors were not done yet as Wes Perkins stepped to the plate. Two straight wild pitches by new pitcher Mason Webster put Gates on third base. Perkins hit a short, slow roller and was able to beat out the throw to give the Majors a 4-3 lead. Sophomore Kevin Wall added his third hit of a game and the fifth hit of the inning for Millsaps.
Senior Andrew Pearce entered in the top of the ninth and closed out the Panthers, shutting them down in order.
Mills (2-1) only threw seven pitches in 1.33 innings pitched, but took the win for Millsaps as he retired all four batters he faced. Riggins finished his day going 6.67 innings pitched giving up two runs off eight hits while striking out eight and walking two. Doug Sherer took the loss for the Panthers.
Gates led the team with two RBIs thanks to his huge hit while Hawkins and Perkins added a RBI a piece. Wall finished the day 3-for-4 with a double while Perkins had two hits as well.
With the win, Millsaps improves to 19-8 overall and remains 8-4 with the week off from SCAC play. The Majors received great news from Conway, Arkansas today as Hendrix swept Trinity this weekend which put Millsaps in first place in the SCAC Western Division.
The Majors return to action Tuesday as they take on Mississippi College at 6 PM in Clinton before returning to SCAC play as they will take on the Austin College 'Roos in Sherman, Texas. Be sure and tune in to all games as they will be live on ATWsportscast with James Hill.
