JACKSON, Miss. – Millsaps softball senior infielder Katelyn Norse tallied her second career home run in a come-from-behind victory in Game Two of a doubleheader against the Centenary Ladies. The Majors split the two-game matchup (2-3, 8-6) at the Millsaps Softball Complex to open the season on Saturday.

Game 1 (2-3)

Kat Reeves (3-for-3) and Molli Perry (2-for-4) scored the runs for Millsaps (1-1) while Cassidy Thrash and Hannah Derouen combined for five strikeouts in game one.

The Majors left 12 runners on base and only scored one run with bases loaded in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

After Centenary scored two runs in the third, Millsaps scored their first run of the season in the bottom of the fifth when Brooklyn Wascom batted home Perry from third to cut the deficit in half. Centenary (1-1) responded by connecting on a pair of doubles to take a 3-1 lead in the sixth.

With the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the seventh, the Majors scored again when Magen Authement was hit by a pitch for the final tally of 3-2.

Game 2 (8-6)

The Majors responded in game two with an offensive explosion. Norse homered and went 4-for-4 (2 RBIs), Emily Cook (3-for-4), Katie Norris (2-for-4) and Alli Nolen (2-for-3) all had multiple hits as well. Exhibiting a dominant performance inside the circle, Derouen struck out six batters and only gave up one run in 4.1 innings pitched to earn the win in relief.

Centenary started fast as they totaled three runs in the first. With runners on first and third with two outs, Reeves scored the Majors' first run when the Ladies' second baseman was unable to corral a ground ball for an error in bottom of the inning.
 
Millsaps scored again in the second inning using a similar theme. After staying alive due to an error with two outs, Cook torched a ball to left centerfield to bring in Norse and make it a 3-2 contest.

Finding themselves with bases loaded and one out, Centenary powered home two more runs to push their lead to 5-2. Looking to answer, a stand-up triple by Norris got the Majors in scoring position. On the very next pitch, Nolen brought Norris home with a single up the middle for a 5-3 score heading into the fourth.

The Majors then tallied two more runs in the fourth to knot the game up at 5-5 with threes innings left to play. Perry scored on an error, Wascom notched a sacrifice fly to score Reeves.

Keeping the Ladies at bay again in the fifth inning, the Majors took their first lead of the day when Norse belted a solo homer to the deepest part of the Millsaps Softball Complex in centerfield.

Nursing their 6-5 lead in the sixth, the defensive play of the game came when third baseman Emily Cook charged a bunt and tossed the batter out at first. Carrying the momentum of the strong defensive play behind her, Derouen did not let the next two batters reach base.

Adding insurance, Nolen and Norse both notched RBIs to help build an 8-5 advantage in the sixth frame. Down to its last three outs, Centenary hit a home run on the first pitch. After forcing one out on a pop fly, Perry delivered another defensive gem for the Majors when she threw out a runner trying to get a double off a base hit to centerfield.

Later in the seventh inning with two outs and the scoring run at the plate, Thrash came in for the final out, securing a strikeout and an 8-6 victory.

Millsaps play in their first road game of the season as they travel to Austin College in Sherman, Texas for another doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 11. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. CT. Live stats and video links will be available on the softball schedule page at gomajors.com.


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