JACKSON, Miss. – The Millsaps softball team bested MUW, 8-2 and 7-0 in a non-conference doubleheader at the Millsaps College Softball Complex on Wednesday.
Game 1: Millsaps 8, MUW 2, W
Sophomore Allana Vasquez pitched a complete seven innings, setting a career-high with 10 strikeouts. She only allowed four hits, three walks and two runs inside the circle.
The last 10-strikeout game for the Majors was thrown by Karley Williams on Feb. 16, 2019.
Freshmen Hailey Peterson (two RBIs, run, double, stolen base, walk) and Brynn Arena (run, double) each batted 2-for-3 against the Owls.
Sophomore Kadence Cannon batted an impressive 2-for-2 while registering one run and an RBI.
Junior Kinsey Smith recorded her fourth collegiate homer of her Millsaps career, collecting two RBIs, two runs and a walk.
Sophomore Ella Morgan Sears (RBI, run), freshman Kodi Jimmie (RBI), senior Alli Nolen (run), freshman Kirsten Gilchrist (run) and Vasquez (RBI) each recorded a hit in Game One.
MUW struck first in the opening inning with a solo home run to take a 1-0 lead over the Majors.
However in the bottom of the second inning, Smith answered back with a two-run homer of her own out to left field, giving the Majors a 2-1 lead.
Millsaps continued to bring the heat by adding five runs off five hits in the fourth. Cannon singled to the Owl shortstop and plated Gilchrist with the bases loaded.
Moments later, Peterson doubled to left field to score Smith and Cannon to push the Majors out front, 5-1.
Millsaps continued to shut down the Owls following a single through the left side by Vasquez. Sears touched home plate to help the Majors expand their advantage to 6-1.
Jimmie then reached first base on a fielder's choice, allowing Peterson to score and continue the Majors' dominance at 7-1.
After a leadoff double by Arena in the fifth, Sears singled up the middle to tally the eighth Millsaps run.
In the top of the sixth inning, MUW hit their second solo homer of the contest but still trailed behind the Majors, 8-2.
Vasquez added three strikeouts in the final two innings, including the final out to help down the Owls in Game One on Wednesday.
Game 2: Millsaps 7, MUW 0, W
In Game Two the Majors held the Owls to zero runs and three hits in a 7-0 shutout. Peterson pitched all seven innings where she also recorded two strikeouts and no walks.
Arena batted 2-for-2, while recording two runs and a walk. Smith went 2-for-3, registering two RBIs, a double and a run.
Sears (two runs, triple), Peterson (three RBIs, double), Vasquez (RBI), Nolen (run), freshman Hannah Briscoe (RBI) and Jimmie all recorded a hit against the Owls.
In the bottom of the second inning, Smith led the Majors to an early 2-0 lead with a double to left field that brought both Nolen and Arena home.
Sears then struck the Owls with a triple out to right center to begin the bottom of the third.
Moments later, Vasquez would reach base on a fielder's choice to bring Sears home to increase Millsaps' advantage to 3-0.
MUW continued to fall behind in the bottom of the sixth inning after Briscoe hit a single to center field, allowing Arena to score and make it 4-0.
Millsaps then loaded the bases before Peterson sent all the runners around to score with a double to left field. Smith, Cannon and Sears were plated to down their opponents, 7-0.
Cannon captured two ground outs and Smith caught a pop-up for the last three outs to hold the Owls scoreless in Game Two on Wednesday.
The Majors will be back in action on Saturday to face Rhodes in a doubleheader, beginning at 1p.m. The Majors will also be recognizing the recipient of the Beacon Award (formerly Molly Tyner Boland Memorial Award), while hosting Alumni weekend.
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.
