COLUMBUS, Miss. – The Millsaps softball team won its third and fourth games, sweeping their stay at The W Invitational. The Majors downed Covenant, 11-3 in five innings and stalled host MUW, 9-0 at Don Usher Softball Field on Saturday.
Game 1: 11-3, W vs. Covenant (5 inn.)
Sophomore Allana Vasquez (four RBIs, two doubles, one walk) and classmate Kadence Cannon (two RBIs, double, two runs) both batted 2-for-3.
Sophomore Ella Morgan Sears (RBI, run, 2-for-4), freshman Brynn Arena (two runs, hit by pitch) and senior Alli Nolen (2-for-2, two runs, RBI, walk) all registered a triple.
Junior Julia Strain (two runs, walk, hit by pitch) and freshman Kodi Jimmie (RBI) both recorded a hit.
Vasquez pitched all five innings, only allowing two walks with three strikeouts.
In the bottom of the first inning, Millsaps started off strong when Strain walked and Vasquez hit a double to left field, advancing Strain to third base. Jimmie stepped and scored the first run with a single.
At the bottom of the second inning, both Nolen and junior Gabrielle Burney walked. Strain was hit by a pitch, which allowed Burney to advance to second and Nolen marching to third.
Vasquez then advanced on four balls, scoring Nolen and extending the Majors' lead to 2-0.
At the end of the third inning, Millsaps continued to pressure the Scots, leading 5-0.
Arena was hit by a pitch then Cannon doubled to right center, leading Arena to score. Nolen then hit a single to center field, advancing Cannon to third base. Burney later brought Cannon home after a fielder's choice.
Sears closed the inning with a triple to center field, allowing Burney to score.
Covenant answered by scoring three runs in the top of fourth.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Millsaps silenced the Scots with seven hits and six runs.
Arena tripled and Cannon singled out to left center, bringing Arena home with an RBI to push the Majors ahead, 6-3.
Moments later, Nolen hit a triple to right center to plate Cannon. Burney then singled, leading Nolen to reach home plate.
Vasquez entered with the bases loaded and doubled home Strain, Sears and freshman Kirsten Gilchrist.
Covenant would fall to the Majors with a score of 11-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning with the run rule in effect.
Game 2: 9-0, W vs. MUW
Vasquez (2-for-4) doubled, scored a run and added two RBIs in the last game of the weekend.
Cannon (3-for-4) stole two bases, added a run and posted an RBI. Jimmie (2-for-4) scored twice and freshman Hailey Peterson posted two RBIs, a hit and scored a run.
Peterson also dominated in the circle with a scoreless seven innings pitched. She held the Owls to two hits and three walks with one strikeout.
In the top of the second inning, Millsaps recorded a 1-0 lead. Cannon singled up the middle and then stole second. She followed by advancing to third and raced home on a wild pitch.
The third inning saw Strain reach first and second base on a throwing error by the Owl shortstop.
Vasquez doubled down the left line, sending Strain home with an RBI for a 2-0 advantage.
In the top of the sixth inning the Majors added two more runs. Vasquez reached first on a throwing error and moved to second.
Freshman Ava Palumbo stepped in to pitch run for Vasquez. Jimmie then sent a hit through the left side to further Palumbo to third.
Peterson followed by batting a sacrifice, scoring Palumbo to make it 3-0.
Finishing the bottom of the inning strong, Cannon singled to center field and sent Jimmie to home plate.
Millsaps was able to shut down the Owls with five runs and six hits in the seventh.
Sears sent the ball down the right field line to score Gilchrist before Vasquez later singled Sears home, giving Millsaps a 6-0 lead.
Peterson batted another Major single to center field bringing Vasquez around.
Closing out the seventh inning strong, Arena reached first base on a fielder's choice with a throwing error bringing Peterson and Jimmie in to score.
Millsaps shut out the Owls, 9-0 in the second game with a fly out, line out and ground out.
The Majors will be back in action on Tuesday to face Belhaven University, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Millsaps Softball Complex. The Majors will also celebrate Danny Neely Day. Neely is the Assistant Director of Facilities Management and Grounds Maintenance for Millsaps College. 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.
