JACKSON – The Millsaps Majors Softball Team wrapped up their opening weekend at home with a split to finish with a 3-1 record. The Majors started the afternoon off against Webster University as they fell 5-1 despite 10 hits, but bounced back in the second game of the day and defeated the Austin College 'Roos 8-7.
The Majors took on the Gorloks in the second game of the afternoon after Webster defeated Austin College earlier that day. Webster opened up the scoring in the second inning as Brandi Strowman singled to right to give them a 1-0 lead.
Millsaps responded in the bottom half of the inning as junior Emily Collins reached on an error and freshman Karen McWilliams moved her over thanks to a sacrifice bunt. After a walk and a recorded out, sophomore Caroline Thompson singled up the middle to score Collins and tie the game.
The Gorloks broke it open in the third thanks to two errors in the inning to extend their lead to 5-1. The Majors put 10 hits on the board, but left 13 runners on base on the afternoon, as they could not get the needed base hit to drive in runs. Millsaps left the bases loaded in the second and third innings and two runners on in the first, sixth, and seventh. They would eventually fall, 6-1.
Thompson, sophomore Abbie Joiner, and sophomore Allyson Christian all had two hits on the afternoon.
Millsaps came back later in the afternoon to take on Austin College where this time, the Majors wasted no time to get runners across.
Thompson opened the game with a walk and a stolen base followed by a walk to Joiner. Junior Megan Yglesias the came to the plate and surprisingly laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first to load the bases for senior Allison Tarbox.
The clean up hitter did not disappoint as she cleared the bases with a three RBI triple to put the Majors on top 3-0. Sophomore Logan Dukes followed her up with a triple of her own and freshman Karen McWilliams drove her in to make in 5-0.
The Majors tacked on two more runs in the second thanks to RBIs from Joiner and McWilliams.
Austin College did not go away though as they got a run in the third and made it a two run game in the fifth thanks to a grand slam from Suzanne Beltran. The 'Roos completed the comeback in the sixth after Chelsea Delaney scored a double to left center to score two.
Millsaps took over in the bottom of the sixth as Joiner led the inning off with a single to the shortstop. Yglesias then grounded into a fielder's choice to put her on first with Tarbox coming to the plate and, once again, the senior came up huge as she hit a line shot into the right center gap for a RBI double to put Millsaps up 8-7. The Majors finished it off in the seventh to take the win.
Tarbox led the way going 4-for-4 with four RBIs on the afternoon. She finished the weekend going 8-for-12 (.667) in four games including two home runs, two triples, a go-ahead double, and 10 RBIs. Yglesias was 2-for-4 for the day while McWilliams had two RBIs.
Sophomore Laurel Jones earned the win as she improves to 3-2 on the year while Collins earned the save as she came in in the seventh as closed the book on the 'Roos.
Millsaps is back in action on Wednesday as they welcome in Division II Christian Brothers University for a double header at the Millsaps Softball Complex. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m.
