LaGRANGE, Ga. – The duo of junior Wes Perkins and senior Ryan Zemke had a huge day offensively as they combined to drive in seven runs on the day to lead Millsaps to a 9-7 win over LaGrange on Saturday afternoon with the rubber match to come on Sunday. Zemke came through in the ninth with a two RBI single to push the Majors over the Panthers.
 
Millsaps came out hot to start the game as senior Drew Leonard walked, junior Stephen Gates reached on an error, and freshman Keith Shumaker singled to load the bases. Perkins came to the plate and hit a deep fly ball to right to score one while Zemke came the plate and laced a double to left to score Gates. Shumaker tried to score on the play, but was gunned down at home as Millsaps led 2-0 after the top half of the first.
 
LaGrange tied it at two as they got a run in the first and second, but the Majors responded in the third with four. Leonard led it off by reaching on an error and then stole second. After a single by Gates made it first and third, Shumaker came away with his second hit of the game to score Leonard and make it a 3-2 game. Perkins then drove home a run on a RBI single while Zemke grounded out to score another run. Senior Jules Roussel put across the fourth run of the inning with a sacrifice fly and the Majors led 6-2.
 
The Panthers got two back in the fourth, but the Majors added another in the fifth when Perkins ripped a home run to left field to put Millsaps on top 7-4. The Majors held, but LaGrange continued to chip away and after the eighth, tied the game at seven after a hit batsman.
 
Millsaps came to the plate in the ninth and they first two batters reached due to errors. Perkins, who was 3-for-3 coming to the plate, did a great job by helping his team and putting down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with one out. Zemke took it from there and singled right up the middle by the diving infielders to score two and give Millsaps a 9-7 lead.
 
Sophomore Zander Romano, working on his fourth inning and looking to notch the win, finished off the Panthers and the Majors ended their five game skid.
 
Perkins was 3-for-3 on the day with three RBIs and was only a triple shy of the cycle while Zemke was 3-for-5 with four RBIs and a double. Shumaker also added a 2-for-4 day with a RBI while Gates scored three.
 
Junior Will Edwards got the start, but struggled slightly with control, giving up six walks, but only three earned runs in five innings of work. Romano relieved him and went the distance, pitching four innings and striking out five.
 
The Majors improve to 11-8 on the year and will square off with the Panthers tomorrow afternoon in the rubber match between the two teams. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.