Clarksville, Ark. - The Millsaps Majors Baseball Team improved to 3-1 Friday morning as they took on the Westminster Blue Jay on Day One of the Ozarks Baseball Classic. Millsaps used four runs in the first two innings and great pitching to pull away with the 9-1 victory.
 
The Majors got things start in the top of the first as junior Stephen Gates singled to left followed by a walk to junior Jules Roussel. Both Gates and Roussel moved over as they swiped second and third. Freshman Keith Shumaker grounded out to second, but it was enough to bring home Gates and give Millsaps the early 1-0 advantage.
 
Millsaps got things going again in the second as they got back-to-back singles from freshman Samuel Doucet and senior Drew Respess. The Majors used a double steal again which led to a two RBI single from senior Drew Leonard to give Millsaps a 3-0 lead. Leonard stole second and moved to third after a flyout, which led to a Gates groundout to score a run and extend the Majors lead.
 
Freshman West Hammond got the start for Millsaps as was outstanding allowing no runs off three hits as he continuously put the Blue Jays down, going six strong innings and striking out three.
 
Millsaps added a run in the fourth thanks to a RBI single from Gates and another run in the seventh, thanks to s sacrifice fly from junior Wes Perkins to make the score 6-0.
 
Junior Will Elmore relieved Hammond and was great going three innings while giving up no earned runs (one unearned) and striking out four.
 
The Majors put the game out of reach in the ninth as Leonard and senior Jordan Nolan led the innings off with walks. After a groundout by pinch hitter Andrew Rafferty moved them into scoring position and Roussel walked to load them up, senior Tanner Woodson came to the plate to pinch hit and roped a single to left, scoring two, and increasing the lead to 8-0.
 
The Majors inning continued as freshman Harrison Olinger got his first career RBI as he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
 
Westminster got a run across in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough as the Majors cruised to the 9-1 win.
 
Hammond earned his first career win of the season while the Blue Jay's Tyler Ten Eyck took the loss.
 
Offensively, Gates led the charge from the leadoff position, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two stolen bases, and a run scored. Doucet added a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5. Leonard did a great job getting on base and finding a way home as he scored three runs. Woodson matched Gates with two RBIs on the day.
 
The Majors are back at the field in Clarksville tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. as they take on Simpson College.