COLUMBUS, Miss. – The Millsaps softball team defeated MUW, 3-1 and bested Covenant College, 5-2 in The W invitational at Don Usher Softball Field on Friday.
Game 1: 3-1, W at MUW
Sophomore Ella Morgan Sears (RBI, double, two stolen bases) and junior Julia Strain (one run) both registered two hits in the opening game.
Sophomore Allana Vasquez, freshman Kodi Jimmie and sophomore Kadence Cannon all recorded a hit against the Owls.
Vasquez pitched in all seven innings, allowing just three hits and no earned runs with six strikeouts.
In the bottom of the third inning, MUW led the Majors, 1-0 thanks to a double to left center field that enabled a runner from first to score an unearned run.
Millsaps responded in the fourth inning by loading the bases when Jimmie and Sears each singled to left field and freshman Brynn Arena walked to first base.
The Majors scored with a sacrifice fly from senior Alli Nolen, allowing Jimmie to come home.
Moments later, a double steal by Arena and Sears of home gave Millsaps their first lead of the contest at 2-1.
In the top of the sixth inning, Millsaps extended their lead to 3-1 when Sears hit a double to center field, allowing Strain to score from first base.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, MUW loaded the bases but was pushed back by the Majors forcing a groundout.
Millsaps allowed zero hits and no runs in the final inning, resulting in a 3-1 triumph over the Owls.
Game 2: 5-2, W vs. Covenant
Vasquez batted a perfect 3-for-3, while accumulating two doubles, an RBI, run scored and a walk.
Freshman Hailey Peterson (two RBIs) and Jimmie both hit 2-for-4, while Sears (RBI), Cannon and Strain each registered one hit and a run scored.
Peterson pitched all seven innings as the winning pitcher. The Metairie, La., native only allowed one earned run and two walks, while striking out three hitters.
In the top of the first inning, Sears doubled to begin the second game of the day. Vasquez doubled to left center, bringing Sears to home plate with an RBI.
Covenant regained their focus in the bottom of the first inning, tying the game at 1-1.
A Scot singled through the right side, allowing a runner from third base to score again and take a 2-1 lead in the same inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, Peterson hit a single to left field, scoring both Vasquez and Strain with the bases loaded.
Millsaps scored two more runs against the Scots in the sixth inning, capitalizing on an error.
Cannon reached first base on a throwing error by the pitcher. Nolen, who touched first prior with a walk, would score an unearned run.
Millsaps extended their final lead to 5-2 after a Sears sacrifice fly to center field scored Cannon from third base.
The Majors held the Scots to zero runs and only one hit for the remainder of the contest.
The Majors will conclude their stay in The W Invitational on Saturday against Covenant at 11 a.m. The second game will start at 3 p.m. against MUW 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.
