SHERMAN, Texas - The 23rd ranked Millsaps Majors baseball team traveled to Sherman, Texas as they began a three game series with the Austin College 'Roos.
In Game 1, the 'Roos got things started in the bottom of the second with a RBI single from Austin Vaughn. Both teams responded with a run in the third inning as Austin College held a 2-1.
The Majors got things rolling in the top of the fourth as senior Jake Mills led things off with a single. Senior Josh Ordeneaux came to the plate and put down a bunt right down the third base line, but an arid throw by the third baseman moved Mills and Ordeneaux into scoring position with no outs.
In came sophomore Stephen Gates who launched a huge double off the left field fence, scoring one, to tie the game at two. Sophomore Wes Perkins and freshman Kevin Wall followed up with back to back RBI singles to give the Majors a 4-2 lead.
Millsaps added two more runs in the sixth thanks to a sacrifice fly from junior Drew Leonard and a RBI single from senior Jeremy Aliff.
Austin College added one more run in the bottom half of the sixth, but it was not enough as the Majors took Game 1, 6-3 in seven innings.
Senior Aaron Williams picked up his fifth win of the season and his third complete as he gave up three runs off seven hits while striking out five. Tyler Steed took the loss for the 'Roos.
In Game 2, the Majors seemed to be in control for their second win of the day. After Austin took a 1-0 lead in the first, Millsaps responded with three runs in the top of the second thanks to a 'Roos errors and RBIs by Aliff and junior Jules Roussel.
Aliff hit his second RBI of the day in the fourth, this time on a stand up double, to give the Majors a 4-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Austin College responded with a five run innings led by a bases clearing 3 RBI triple by Lee Frank. Millsaps narrowed the gap back to one run in the top of the sixth off a RBI single from Roussel, but Austin College responded with three runs in the next two innings to take the 9-5 lead.
In the top of the eighth, the Majors loaded the bases as Mills came to the plate with two outs. Mills fouled four pitches off before ripping a single to the right side to make a 9-6 game. Up came Ordeneaux as he cleared the bases with a towering grand slam over the left field wall to give Millsaps the 10-9 lead.
However, Austin College didn't go away as they responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning and were able to hold Millsaps off in the ninth to come away victorious, 11-10.
Sophomore Elliot Varney got the start for Millsaps going 4 2/3 innings pitched, giving up six earned runs. Senior Jason Riggins took his first loss of the season as he pitched 2 2/3 innings pitched and gave up five runs. Senior John Marshall Pemberton came in the eighth innings with the bases loaded, giving up one hit and striking out one in 2/3 inning work.
Aliff was one of the highlights for the Majors, going 4-for-10 day with three RBIs and two runs scored. Gates continued swinging a red hot bat, going 4-for-9 today with a RBI and three runs scored. Ordeneaux added four RBIs off the grand slam, and Rouseel had three RBIs.
With the split and Trinity taking two games over Southwestern, the Tigers (24-8, 11-5 SCAC) take a half game lead on the Majors (20-10, 9-5 SCAC) with one game coming up for each team tomorrow.
Game 3 is set to begin tomorrow at 12 p.m. with Millsaps posing as the home team due to a makeup game that was rained out in Jackson from March. The game will be broadcasted live on ATWsportscast.com with James Hill on the call.
