JACKSON, Miss. -- The Millsaps College baseball team returned to Twenty Field on Friday evening to kick off a three-game Southern Athletic Association (SAA) series with the Panthers of Birmingham-Southern College. 

The Panthers jumped out to a 6-0 lead before holding off a furious Millsaps comeback attempt to pick up the 6-3 win. 

The Majors fall to 3-13 overall and 1-2 in SAA play, while BSC improves their overall mark to 11-4 and 1-0 in the conference.

How It Happened
Birmingham-Southern opened up a 2-0 lead early on after scoring 2 runs on 2 hits and 1 Millsaps error in the top of the 1st. 

After a rough start, Conner Haynes settled in on the mound and was able to pitch out of trouble several times over the next 5 innings. 

Unfortunately, the Millsaps offense struggled to get much of anything going on their end. 

In the top of the 7th, BSC opened it up to 4-0 on a two-run home run, but Ryan Erwin was able to come in from the pen and pitch out of a jam to keep it there.

After the Majors were silenced in the bottom of the 7th, the Panthers added two more runs on a single in the 8th to make it 6-0.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Millsaps offense broke through for a pair of runs. 

Jimmy Johnstone reached on a one-out single to get things started. Brennan Ducote followed that up with a single to put two runners on. After Johnstone advanced to 3rd on a fly-out, Mason Little came to the plate with two outs in the inning. He came through with a single to right, Johnstone and Ducote both scored on the play to make it 6-2. 

Langston Haden struck out the side in the top of the 9th to give the Majors a chance.  

Nathan Chilton drew a bases loaded walk to put a runner on with two outs. William Warner entered as a pinch runner and stole second. John Houston Robertson and Johnstone came through with back-to-back singles. Johnstone's single allowed Warner to score, and also brought the tying run to the plate. 

Unfortunately the Panthers were able to end things with a strikeout to pick up the 6-3 win. 
 
Key Contributors
Ducote led the offense with 3 hits, including a double to left field in the top of the 1st. Meanwhile, Little and Johnstone both had a pair of hits and a RBI for the Majors.

Haden pitched just 1.2 innings out of the bullpen and scored 5 strikeouts. The pitching staff combined for 9 total Ks on the evening. 

What's Next?
The two teams will return to Twenty Field for a doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch of game one is set for 12:00 p.m.