PINEVILLE, La. – The Millsaps softball program opened its 2021 season with a doubleheader at Louisiana College on Saturday, falling 8-6 and 8-5.
GAME ONE
The Majors opened the campaign with a 6-0 lead through the four and half innings, but couldn't hold on in an 8-6 defeat.
Junior
Katelyn Norse led Millsaps with two hits and two RBIs. Norse opened the scoring with a single up the middle in the first inning to score teammate
Kat Reeves (two runs).
The game would remain 1-0 until the fourth when junior
Mattie Taliaferro doubled to left field to score
Brooklyn Wascom.
Millsaps would then produce four runs in their half of the fifth. A passed ball would score
Molli Perry, followed by a Norse RBI single. Norse would then cross home plate on a
Lindsey Osbon double. The final run by the Majors occurred when Osbon scored on a Louisiana College throwing error.
Sophomore pitcher
Hannah Derouen cruised through the first four innings, but the Wildcats clawed their way back in the fifth. Louisiana College's Desiree Squires (five RBIs) plated two runners with a double.
The Wildcats would then post six runs on six hits in the bottom of the sixth to grab an 8-6 lead, which they never relinquished.
GAME TWO
The second game on Saturday played out in opposite fashion, with Louisiana College (2-0) grabbing a commanding lead early while Millsaps (0-2) attempted a comeback. Reeves had a strong game, scoring two runs on two hits while adding an RBI in an 8-5 loss.
The Wildcats scored in each of the first three innings to build an early 6-0 advantage. Taliaferro would then answer for the Majors by crushing a home run pitch over the left field fence in the fourth.
Perry and Reeves would both score on throwing errors in the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-3. However, Louisiana College grew its lead back up to five in the following frame on a fielder's choice and a single.
Millsaps would make one final push in the seventh to grab a split of the doubleheader. Reeves doubled home pinch runner
Britney Silver from second. After a Major walk and fly out, junior
Ty Bergeron would pinch hit and score Reeves with two outs. Taliaferro grounded out to end the comeback.
The Majors host MUW next Saturday and Sunday for a pair of doubleheaders. First pitch for Saturday is scheduled for 4 p.m., and action begins 12 p.m. on Sunday. Live stats and video will be available on the softball schedule page at gomajors.com.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the softball program follow the Majors on Twitter and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.
