SHREVEPORT, La. – The Millsaps softball team was bettered by Centenary College, 4-3 and 10-3 in a doubleheader series at Centenary Softball Complex on Saturday.
Game 1: 4-3, L
Sophomore Allana Vasquez batted 3-for-4 with an RBI, while classmate Ella Morgan Sears finished 2-for-4 in hitting.
Senior Alli Nolen (one walk), junior Kinsey Smith, sophomore Kadence Cannon (one walk) and freshmen Brynn Arena (one run) all registered one hit.
First-year student Kodi Jimmie (one run) recorded her first collegiate home run as a Major.
Vasquez pitched 8.1 innings, while only allowing one walk and striking out seven batters in the circle. The Ladies only scored one unearned run, but registered eight hits. Millsaps did record 10 hits in the nine-inning, extra-inning contest.
In the bottom of the first inning, Centenary saw a 1-0 lead after three base knocks.
Millsaps responded in the top of the second inning as Jimmie hammered her first collegiate homer past the left-field fence.
Both teams remained in a 1-1 draw before Centenary regained their lead by one run in the bottom of the sixth inning. An error and pair of singles made it 2-1.
The Majors made a comeback in the top of the seventh to match up with the Ladies at 2-2. Vasquez doubled to left center and brought Arena home from second base with two outs.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Millsaps allowed zero hits to go into extras.
In the top of the ninth inning, freshman Haley Peterson scored on a wild pitch to give Millsaps their first lead of the matchup. She began the frame on second base, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on the erroneous pitch.
Centenary recovered in the bottom of the ninth with two runs off a one hit and an error to take Game One, 4-3.
Game 2: 10-3, L
Peterson led the way for the Majors with a 2-for-3 outing, scored one run and walked in Game Two.
Arena, Vasquez (one run, one walk), junior Julia Strain (two RBIs) and sophomore Madeline Black all batted one hit.
Peterson pitched in all six innings, while striking out three batters and walked two against the Ladies.
In the bottom of the first inning, Centenary topped the Majors, 2-0 following a pair of runs following three hits.
The Ladies' lead continued to grow to 5-0 in the bottom of the second inning before the host added two additional runs in the bottom of the third inning, making it 7-0.
Millsaps would come alive in the top of the fourth inning as Vasquez and Jimmie both walked to open the frame.
Peterson singled to Centenary shortstop and advanced to second on an error. Jimmie moved to third, giving Vasquez room to score on the fielding mistake in the outfield.
Moments later, Strain cracked a single to center field to send Jimmie and Peterson home to score for the Majors.
In the top of the fifth inning, there was almost a chance to score again for the Majors as Arena singled to right field.
Cannon and Peterson both walked advancing Arena to advance to third. However, the Centenary shortstop captured the third out on a pop up.
The Ladies put up three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 10-3 advantage.
Millsaps tallied two hits in the top of the seventh inning, but Centenary conquered the win on Saturday in Game Two.
The Majors will return to action on Friday, Feb.14 to face off in The W Invitational. The first game is slated to start at 2 p.m. against the host MUW, while the second game will begin against Covenant College at 4 p.m. in Columbus, Miss. Live video and live stats links will be provided at gomajors.com.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College softball program follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
