CONWAY, AR- The Millsaps Majors outlasted the Birmingham Southern Panthers 6-4 in 11 innings on Friday night to advance in the winner's bracket of the SAA tournament.
The game was forced into the NCAA tiebreaking rules in the 10th inning in an effort to find a winner. In that scenario, the player who made the last out is placed on second base to start the inning. The tie-break scenario can be utilized at any point in a game so long as it's agreed upon, the NCAA suggests using the 10th inning as a starting point for the rules. Both teams had chances in the 10th with the Majors getting out of a bases loaded situation in the 10th.
In the 11th, Megan Murray delivered a two-run, two-out single with the bases loaded ot break the 4-4 tie. That proved to be the game winner after the Majors got a game-ending double play off the bat of Tori Garner who lined out to center and Abbie Joiner doubled off the runner.
Both teams needed some late-inning heroics to force extra innings. Down 2-1 in the seventh, the Majors erupted for three runs to take a 4-2 lead. With two outs, the Majors were able to load the bases and an error and single by Savannah Havard led to three unearned runs to score.
Birmingham Southern responded with two of their own in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. Blakeli Entremont got out of a bases loaded nobody out jam by getting a ground out, flyout and line out to force extras.
Each team left two runners on in the eighth and went down in order in the ninth to invoke the tie-break scenario.
Megan Murray and Savannah Havard each had two runs batted in to pace the Majors' offense, who pounded out eight hits and were aided by four Panther errors. Danielle Faucheux went the first six innings and was charged with the four earned runs. She walked five and struck out four. Entremont got the win to move to 11-5 on the season. She went the final five innings, allowing just two hits, walking two and striking out one.
The Majors improve to 2-0 in the SAA tournament and 25-11 overall. They advance to play the Berry Vikings tomorrow afternoon at 2pm.
