CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.—The sixth-seeded Millsaps softball team kicked off the 2019 SAA Tournament on Thursday, taking on third-seeded Rhodes in the first round. 
 
Millsaps held onto a 2-1 lead into the fifth, but much like the last time they played the Lynx, they couldn't keep the lead as Rhodes plated three runs in the fifth and took the first game 4-2. 
 
How It Happened
 
Rhodes struck first in the bottom of the second off starter Karley Williams. After a single and a groundout put a runner on second, another single drove in a run, putting Rhodes ahead 1-0. 
 
Millsaps responded in the top of the third after Leslie Norris reached on an error by the second baseman and then scored on Jordan Lipari's RBI triple. Kendall Carder's RBI groundout plated Lipari and gave the Majors a 2-1 lead. 
 
Williams continued to roll until she got in trouble in the fifth. Two singles and a stolen base put runners on second and third with two outs but an error allowed the tying run to score, which was followed by a single, putting Rhodes ahead 4-2. Amber Funderburk came in to finish the fifth and kept the Lynx off the board. 
 
Millsaps put the tying run on first in the seventh when Mackenzie Johnson singled and Brooklyn Wascom walked, but the offense couldn't push anyone across as the Majors fell to the loser's bracket of the SAA Tournament. 
 
Offensively, the Majors were able to muster just four hits with Lipari and Carder each driving in a run. 
 
Williams picked up the loss despite not giving up an earned run.  
 
What's Next
 
Millsaps will have to fight for their season to continue tomorrow as they'll face the loser of tonight's Berry/Sewanee matchup in an elimination game at 2 PM CT.