JACKSON – The Millsaps Majors Softball Team wrapped up their regular season on Thursday afternoon as they welcomed in the Centenary Ladies for a two game doubleheader. Millsaps used four run innings in the fourth inning in Game One and the first inning in Game Two to take out the Ladies and cruise to 7-1 and 7-0 wins with the SCAC Tournament looming next weekend.
Both teams picked up hits in the first inning, but had nothing to show for it, but Centenary then struck first in the second inning as a double by Cadie Hancock gave the Ladies a 1-0 lead.
Millsaps responded immediately in the bottom half of the second as junior Emily Collins walked and freshman Karen McWilliams began her great day with a blistering single that scooted by the left fielder to bring Collins all the way home to tie it at one.
The Majors then exploded in the third as sophomore Caroline Thompson led the inning off with a single, stole second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. After two batters, senior Allison Tarbox walked, sophomore Katie Birdwell walked, and finally Collins walked to give Millsaps the 2-1 lead.
The Majors then got one more run thanks to an illegal pitch. McWilliams capped off the inning with a huge two RBI single through the left side to make it a 5-1 Millsaps lead.
Millsaps got two more runs in the fourth thanks to a RBI double from Tarbox to take a 7-1 lead. Collins didn't need much more as she cruised in the circle for the complete game win, only allowing one run and striking out four.
The bats kept rolling in Game Two as Thompson led the game off with a single followed by an error to make it first and second. Birdwell then came to the plate and stroked a RBI double to deep left field to give Millsaps a 1-0 lead. After a walk to Collins loaded the bases, McWilliams put the ball in play to score one followed by a RBI single from senior Jade Hewitt.
Millsaps got two more in the second as sophomore Abbie Joiner led the inning off with a single. Birdwell then came through with her second RBI and second double of the game to make it 5-0. McWilliams later scored Birdwell on a sacrifice fly as the Majors were cruising.
They got one more in fifth thanks to a sacrifice fly from sophomore Logan Dukes and the combination of sophomores Laurel Jones, Molly Tyner, and Katie Birdwell combined to shutout the Ladies while only allowing four hits to take the 7-0 win.
The Majors have been on fire down the homestretch as they finish the regular season winning 12 of their last 14 games to get themselves back to .500 at 18-18. They will take the weekend off as they prepare for the SCAC Tournament in Jackson, Tennessee next weekend.
Millsaps will be playing in the 2 p.m. game, the second game of the tournament and they will take on the series winning of Hendrix College and Austin College as the two battle it out for third in the SCAC Western Division. If the Majors win, they will play the No. 1 team in the West, the winner of the Southwestern/Trinity series this weekend, at 6 p.m. If they lose, they will come back the next day and take on the loser of Game One at 10 p.m.
