DANVILLE, Ky. – The Millsaps Majors Softball Team traveled to Danville on Saturday afternoon as they took on the Centre Colonels in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play. The Majors survived an exciting eight-inning game as they pulled away to take an 8-4 win before returning in Game Two and blowing out the Colonels 8-0 in five innings.
Millsaps got things start in the first inning in Game One as Sophomores Caroline Thompson and Abbie Joiner each singled and stole bases to get into scoring position. Junior Megan Yglesias singled to score a run and put Millsaps on top 1-0. Senior Allison Tarbox picked up her 20th RBI of the season as she ground into a fielder's choice to score a run and make it 2-0.
The Majors added another run in the third as Yglesias singled again and eventually crossed home after Centre committed two straight errors to make it 3-0.
After Centre added a run in the bottom half of the third, Millsaps got another run in the fifth as Yglesias led the inning with a single again and eventually came around to score after another Colonel error to go up 4-1. However, Centre got a run in the fifth and two in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.
Millsaps had a huge extra frame as they loaded the bases up with one out. Yglesias came through with a huge single to score two runs and put the Majors ahead 6-4. Tarbox followed her up with a single of her own to extend their lead to three. Junior Emily Collins then reached on an error for the third time, which also scored Yglesias for the third time to make it an 8-4 game.
Sophomore Katie Birdwell, who came in relief for Collins earlier in the game, closed the door on the Colonels to earn the win.
Yglesias had a huge day, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Sophomore Caroline Thompson was also big for Millsaps as she went 4-for-5 with two runs scored. Sophomore Logan Dukes was 2-for-2 while Birdwell added a multi-hit game going 2-for-5. Tarbox also added two RBIs.
It only took one inning in Game Two as the Majors exploded for eight runs to cruise to a win in five innings.
Thompson and Joiner led the game off by reaching on errors and then stealing bases to get into scoring position. Yglesias came through again with another single to score two and put Millsaps up early. Tarbox came to the plate and ripped a triple to right to score Yglesias and make it 3-0. She then scored on a passed ball to keep the runs coming.
Sophomore Allyson Christian then reached on an error followed by a double by Collins to put the Majors back in business again. Birdwell singled to score one and senior Jade Hewitt ground into a fielder's choice to make it a 6-0 game. After a walk to sophomore Logan Dukes, Thompson doubled to right to score one and Joiner grounder out to score one more and the Majors took a commanding 8-0 lead.
Sophomore Molly Tyner would have been fine with only one as she dominated in the circle, pitching all five innings while giving up three hits and striking out one to earn the win in a convincing way.
Yglesias added two more RBIs to her day as she went 1-for-3 for the day while Thompson, Christian, and Birdwell each had two hits on the day.
Millsaps improves to 8-16 on the season and 3-3 in the SCAC. They return to action tomorrow afternoon as they finish their four game series with the Colonels in doubleheader. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m EST.
