MT. BERRY, Ga. – The Millsaps baseball team's offense was explosive early and late as the No. 6 seed Majors downed No. 7 seed Centre, 16-10 to improve to 2-0 in the SAA Tournament on Friday. Millsaps advanced to Saturday's Berry Pod Finals in the double-elimination format at William R. Bowdoin Field.

Junior Sam Pitre was an incredible 5-for-6 with three RBIs and three runs. Seniors Mason Little (two RBIs) and Avery Brock (three RBIs) both posted four hits and three runs, while classmate Chris Hart went 3-for-4 with three runs scored.

It was a hitting derby as Millsaps (23-18) was able to post 20 hits, while Centre (17-24) notched 14.

Starting pitcher Jackson Hood looked strong early with a 1-2-3 top of the first frame. The Majors opened up a huge bottom of the first with the first five batters reaching base successfully, which led to four runs.

With runners on second and third, Case Page forced a throwing error to plate Hart for the first run. Back-to-back singles by Brock and Pitre plated Little and Page. The final tally of the inning came from an RBI ground out by Mark Petkovsek to score Brock from third.

The Colonels would load the bases twice in the second inning and push across one run to cut the deficit to 4-1. However, Hood responded with a strikeout and fly out to keep the Majors out front.

Millsaps loaded the bases in the bottom of the second with one out, but Centre kept the runners at bay.

The Colonels then made it a 4-3 game in the third with a two-run home run. Hood would limit further damage with two strikeouts, which bookended the inning.

Pitre would strike for his seventh home run of the season to push the Major lead to 5-3 after three frames.

Graduate Ryan Erwin would enter in the fourth with a Colonel on first base and no outs. A hit and sacrifice fly would plate another run for Centre. The game would remain 5-4 following a pair of fly outs.

Centre loaded the bases once more in the fifth, but the Majors would extinguish the threat and hold the lead. Erwin would throw a strikeout and Petkovsek made an incredible sliding catch that resulted in an inning-ending double play. He was able to toss out the runner at second base for a force out.

The Majors put runners on first and second in their half with one out, but Centre kept the runners from crossing the plate. The Colonels took advantage with back-to-back doubles and a two-run homer to take a 7-5 edge of their own to begin the sixth. Centre would add another three runs before inning's end.

Looking to battle back, Brock powered his eighth home run of the season out over the left field wall to make it a 10-6 game in the seventh. Senior Nathan Chilton would follow with a pitch hit, RBI single to score Pitre from second base.

Leadoff hitter Hart and Little began the bottom of the eighth with back-to-back singles and reached scoring position with a double steal. Page and Brock would draw walks to make it a 10-8 game as Hart crossed the plate. Pitre then made it 10-9 with an RBI single through the right side to bring home Little.

The Majors would claw their back to take an 11-10 advantage when Petkovsek got the ball through the shortstop on the first pitch to bring home Brock and Page. Freshman center fielder Bradley Pelle then scored Pitre from third with a deep sacrifice fly.

Junior Dylan McFarland then doubled to right field to bring Petkovsek around from first base to build a 13-10 cushion. Little continued the momentum with a 2-RBI double bringing Hart and McFarland around to score. The advantage grew to 16-10 when Page singled home Little for the ninth run of the inning.

Millsaps finished off the victory with three final outs to move on to the Berry Pod Final. The Majors will face No. 3 seed Rhodes at 12 p.m. CT on Saturday and in an if-necessary game to follow. Live stats and live video are available through gomajors.com.


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