BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A memorable 2022 season came to an end as the Millsaps baseball team was bested, 8-3 by No. 3 nationally ranked Birmingham-Southern in the SAA Championship Series at Striplin Field on Monday.

Fifth year senior shortstop Mason Little, senior first baseman Avery Brock and junior pitcher Wil Wood were named to the SAA Baseball All-Tournament Team. The trio and the Majors were impressive, winning three of four games in the Berry Pod and gave Birmingham-Southern (38-8) all it could handle in the best of three series.

Millsaps (24-21) tallied three hits courtesy of senior Mark Petkovsek, junior Sam Suggs and freshman Bradley Pelle on Monday.

Sophomore Jackson Hood opened the game with a quality four innings pitched. Hood allowed five hits against three runs with one strike out and one walk.

Little would reach second base with an error in the top of the first inning, but BSC would respond with a ground out to end the opportunity. The Panthers claimed an early 1-0 edge with an RBI triple down the right field line to end the first.

Petkovsek was hit by a pitch for the 27th time this season in the second, which ranks second across NCAA Division III in 44 games. Pelle would then walk, but the next two Majors were unable to advance the pair.
 
The Panthers put two runners on in the second, but Jackson Hood forced a groundout to escape the jam.

Petkovsek and Pelle tallied back-to-back singles up the middle to open the fourth inning and force pressure yet again. A wild pitch then advanced both into scoring position. Sam Suggs followed by crushing the ball to center field for a ground rule double, giving Millsaps a 2-1 advantage. The Majors looked like they could add more but were caught into a double play at second base following an outstanding running catch in center.

BSC tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single and took the lead again with three runs in the fifth.

Attempting to battle back, Suggs earned a four-pitch walk to begin the seventh. He was replaced at first base on a Dylan McFarland fielder's choice. Hart added the second walk of the inning moments later. The Panthers managed to record two outs to finish off the chance and pushed across two runs off their own in the seventh for a 7-2 lead.

The Majors would cut into the deficit in the eighth. Brock walked, made it to third and scored on a wild pitch. BSC added a final run for the final 8-3 tally.


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