JACKSON – The Millsaps Majors Baseball Team found itself in a pitching duel on Sunday afternoon at Twenty Field. After both teams opened up the first inning with a run apiece, the Majors could not find any offense despite great pitching from junior Will Edwards and freshman Samuel Doucet as they went on to fall to No. 24 Piedmont 3-1.
 
The Lions started the first with a double by Kevin D'Antignac followed by a RBI single by Curtis Cornett, all with two outs, to make it 1-0 Piedmont.
 
Millsaps responded in the bottom half after senior Jules Roussel was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a ground ball by junior Wes Perkins.  Freshman Keith Shumaker came to the plate and laced a singled to left center to score Roussel and tie the game. Junior Stephen Gates followed up with a single, but the Majors could not put any more runs across the board.
 
From there on, the Majors would struggle against Piedmont's Caleb Cochran as they could not muster another hit in the next six innings and only got on base one time due to a walk.
 
Piedmont got things started in the fourth by loading the bases up thanks to two walks and a hit batsman. Edwards settled in and got a shallow fly out, a ground out that scored a run, and a second ground out to end in the inning and limit the damage.
 
In the fifth, the Lions' Kyle Davis led things off with a single and stole second and third before crossing home on a sacrifice fly by D'Antignac to increase their lead to 3-1.
 
The Majors continued to struggle offensively. In the ninth, they got back in the hit column as Roussel singled to left center with one out. However, Millsaps could not make any magic happen as they came up short.
 
Edwards pitched well despite taking the loss, going 5.2 innings while giving up three runs on three hits and striking out five. Freshman Samuel Doucet relieved Edwards and pitched well in relief as he went 3.1 innings allowing only one hit and striking out four.
 
Cochran was the key as he went seven full innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out 12. Ed Cook picked up the two inning save for the Lions.
 
Roussel, Shumaker, and Gates had the three hits for Millsaps while Shumaker drove in the one run. No hitter on either team had multiple hits.
 
Millsaps returns to action on Friday, February 17th as they travel to Clarksville, Arkansas to take on Westminster College. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.