JACKSON, Miss. – The Millsaps softball team faced off against Sewanee in the Southern Athletic Association opening series, resulting in a doubleheader split on Saturday. The teams traded 7-4 scores before the Majors took Game Three and the series, 12-6 at the Millsaps College Softball Complex on Sunday. 


Game 1: 7-4, W 
 
Freshman Hailey Peterson recorded her second collegiate home run of the season in Game One. The Metairie, La., native also accumulated a season-high four RBIs with a triple and two runs scored.

Sophomore Allana Vasquez (RBI, run, double, hit by pitch), senior Alli Nolen (RBI, double) and junior Kinsey Smith (two runs, two walks, stolen base) each contested a hit against the Tigers.

Vasquez tossed a complete seven innings inside the circle for the Majors. The Udine, Italy, native struck out six batters while only allowing four runs and one walk.

Sewanee took an early 2-0 lead following a pair of hits and a walk in the opening inning.

In the bottom of the first frame, Peterson attacked the Tigers with a triple to right field. Vasquez doubled through the right side to score Peterson and give the Majors their first score of the contest.

After a powerful hit by Vasquez, Nolen recorded another double to plate Vasquez in the to tie the contest at 2-2.

Millsaps kept the momentum going in the second after Smith and sophomore Kadence Cannon both walked and stole a base to attack the Tigers.

Moments later, Sears grounded out to the Tiger shortstop to score Cannon, providing the Majors their first lead of the contest at 3-2.

Sewanee found themselves falling behind further after Peterson recorded a two-run home run to left field to send Smith home and extend Millsaps' margin to 5-2.

Smith continued the offensive barrage after a leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Freshman Ava Palumbo stepped in to pinch run for Smith and later scored from third base after Peterson hit a fielder's choice.

Down 6-2, Sewanee added two runs in the top of the fifth to shorten their deficit by two.

In the bottom of the sixth frame, Millsaps continued to increase their lead after Peterson flied out to left field on a sacrifice fly to send Smith home.

In the final inning, freshman Kodi Jimmie tossed a ground ball to sophomore Kadence Cadence covering first base for the last out to help the Majors defeat the Tigers, 7-4 in Game One.


Game 2: 7-4, L

Vasquez batted 2-for-3 against the Tigers in Game Two, while recording one RBI and a walk.

Jimmie (run), Nolen (two RBIs, double, walk, stolen base, hit by pitch), freshman Brynn Arena (walk, stolen base) and classmate Kirsten Gilchrist (double) each recorded a hit.

Freshman Hailey Peterson pitched all seven innings and struck out four batters while allowing zero walks. The Tigers were able to record 13 hits for seven runs.

After taking down the Tigers 7-4 in Game One, Nolan doubled to right field to score both Jimmie and Vasquez to propel Millsaps to an early 2-0 lead in the first.

In the top of the second inning, Sewanee responded with one run off three hits to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Tigers tied the score in the third with a leadoff double, steal and sacrifice fly.

Millsaps continued to battle hard in bottom of the fourth inning as Vasquez singled to center field and advanced to second on an error by the Tiger center fielder. The play plated junior Taylor Gonzales and Peterson to move the Majors ahead, 4-2.

Sewanee, however, grabbed their first lead of the contest with four runs on five hits in the sixth.

The Tigers answered with another run and four hits in the top of the seventh to extend their advantage to 7-4.

Looking to make a comeback for the Majors, Gilchrist opened the bottom of the seventh inning with a leadoff double. Sewanee would react by forcing a strikeout, ground out and fly out to down the Majors, 7-4 in Game Two.


Game 3: 12-6, W

Sophomore Ella Morgan Sears recorded her first home run as a Major on Sunday. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., native went 3-for-5 in batting while recording three runs, two RBIs and a double. 
 
Arena went a perfect 2-for-2 in hitting while registering one run, two RBIs and a hit by pitch. 
 
Gilchrist (RBI, run, double, walk) and Cannon (run) each batted 2-for-3 against their opponents. 
 
Jimmie also batted two hits as well with an RBI and a run. Peterson (three runs, four walks) and Gonzales (RBI) both went 1-for-1. 
 
Freshman Hannah Briscoe had a solid performance against the Tigers with an RBI double. Vasquez scored twice, adding an RBI triple and was hit by a pitch. 
 
Peterson covered the final 3.1 innings pitched to earn the win, allowing no earned runs and no walks against six hits.

A leadoff home run by Sears gave the Majors an instant shot of energy and a 1-0 advantage.

Moments later, Vasquez hammered a triple to right field to score Peterson and extend the Majors' lead to 2-0.

Millsaps kept their scoring spree alive in the bottom of the second inning after Briscoe hit a double to left center, allowing Arena to score. The powerful hit by the Lewisville, Texas, native expanded the Majors' lead to 3-0. 
 
After being held scoreless for three innings, Sewanee battled back to take their first lead of the contest at 5-3 off five hits, a walk and a wild pitch. 
 
Millsaps, not allowing the Sewanee lead get to them, came back strong in the bottom of the same fourth inning.

Cannon led the inning off with a single to third base. Sears then doubled to left field to score Cannon to cut the deficit down to 5-4.

Moments later, a Jimmie single to right field led Sears home to draw the matchup even at 5-5.

Soon after a sacrifice fly by Nolen sent Peterson home to give Millsaps back their lead back. 
 
Millsaps continued to down their foes when Gilchrist singled to advance Vasquez and push the Majors further on top at 7-5. 
 
Arena increased the pressure for the Majors after a single to left center brought both Jimmie and Gilchrist around to score, exceeding the team lead to 9-5. 
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Millsaps added six runs courtesy of five hits, an error and a walk. 
 
Sewanee utilized a pass ball by the Majors to score again in the top of the fifth inning. 
 
Millsaps clawed back at the Tigers again in the bottom of the fifth as Sears scored on a wild pitch. A few moments later, Gonzales singled up the middle to send Vasquez home. 
 
Sewanee was unable to make a comeback for the remainder of the contest as Millsaps held their 12-6 lead and took down the Tigers in conference action on Sunday. 
 
The Majors will be back in action and host MUW in a non-conference doubleheader, beginning at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. 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.