Season Preview Video
JACKSON, Miss. – It's been a long time coming, but college baseball finally returns to the Millsaps College campus. The 2021 Millsaps baseball team brings back several productive hitters and a highly effective and experienced trio of left-handed pitchers.
The Majors are led by their legendary head baseball coach
Jim Page, who enters his 32nd season at the helm. His 781-509-3 record ranks 13th among active NCAA Division III coaches, and 25th on the all-time wins list.
At the plate, several 2020 standouts return. Sophomore outfielder
Mark Petkovsek Jr. is the most efficient returning Major, finishing last season with a team-high .370 batting average and .470 on-base percentage. He also tallied 10 RBIs on 20 hits.
Behind the plate should be well-tended to as senior catcher
Fritz Walker III is back. Walker III led the team with four home runs in an 18-game shortened season. The Madisonville, La., native also paced the team with 18 RBIs on 17 hits and finished second with a .460 on-base percentage.
Junior infielder
Avery Brock is another key player to watch as he ended 2019 with three homers, 18 hits, 13 RBIs and a team-best 17 runs scored.
Other seasoned Major hitters include sophomore outfielder
Sam Pitre and graduate infielder
Jon Dale Dieckman. Pitre amassed a .400 on-base percentage and tallied 12 runs, while Dieckman posted 15 hits and 14 RBIs.
As a fielding core, Walker III, Brock and Pitre posted the highest returning numbers. Walker III accumulated 109 putouts with a .967 fielding percentage. Primarily at first base, Brock accounted for 95 putouts against a .991 fielding mark. Lastly, Pitre was flawless with his defensive throws as he registered 45 putouts without an error.
A trio of lethal left-handed pitchers look to make life difficult for opposing batters, including sophomore
Wil Wood, senior
Ryan Erwin and graduate
Taylor Sullivan.
Wood led Millsaps with 28.1 innings pitched and 21 strikeouts in a team-high seven starts. He already began 2021 right where he left off earning SAA Baseball Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 15. He threw five scoreless innings, struck out six batters, while only yielding two hits to open the campaign.
Erwin promises to be another tough out for the Majors. The Baton Rouge, La., product finished with a 3-2 record, 20 strikeouts and two saves. In 24.2 innings pitched, Erwin produced an impressive .204 batting average against.
The final returning pitcher that should post quality numbers includes Sullivan. Last season, Sullivan pitched 24.1 innings, striking out 14 opponents while posting a strong .270 batting average against.
Millsaps' schedule will feature four-game sets spread across two days over the weekend. The first and last games of each series will be nine innings, while the middle two will go seven innings. Only Southern Athletic Association (SAA) foes are featured on this season's calendar.
The top four teams will earn the right to compete at the SAA Conference Tournament, April 22-25, with the No. 1 seed hosting. Live stats and video will be available for all games at gomajors.com.
2021 Millsaps Majors Baseball Schedule
Date Opponent Time (CT)
Feb. 13 vs. Hendrix W, 2-0; L, 2-5
Feb. 21 vs. Rhodes (at Hoover) 12 p.m. (DH)
Feb. 22 vs. Rhodes (at Hoover) 11:30 p.m. (DH)
Feb. 27 vs. Berry 12 p.m. (DH)
Feb. 28 vs. Berry 11 a.m. (DH)
March 6 at Berry 11 a.m. (DH)
March 7 at Berry 11 a.m. (DH)
March 13 vs. Oglethorpe 12 p.m. (DH)
March 14 vs. Oglethorpe 11 a.m. (DH)
March 27 at Centre 11 a.m. (DH)
March 28 at Centre 11:30 a.m. (DH)
April 2 vs. BSC 1 p.m. (DH)
April 3 vs. BSC 12 p.m. (DH)
April 10 vs. Hendrix 1 p.m. (DH)
April 11 vs. Hendrix 12 p.m. (DH)
April 17 at Rhodes 12 p.m. (DH)
April 18 at Rhodes 12 p.m. (DH)
April 22-25 SAA Tournament Four Teams at No. 1 Seed
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the baseball program follow the Majors on Twitter and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.
