MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Millsaps baseball team took care of business by taking down MUW, 11-1 in eight innings in the Firehouse Classic opener hosted by Huntingdon at Neal Posey Field on Friday.
Junior Layne Cross had an outstanding performance against the Owls. The Brandon, Miss., native batted 3-for-3, recording three runs, one RBI, two walks and a double.
Senior Gray Berry batted 3-for-4 while contesting two runs and was hit by a pitch. Berry also set a Millsaps career-high with four RBIs.
Classmate Evan Scott recorded his fourth home run of the season. The Kosciusko, Miss., product recorded two hits, one run, a pair of RBIs and a walk against the Owls.
Senior Bradley Pelle finished the day with one run, a walk, double and an RBI.
Sixth year Branyan Bounds (hit, RBI) and junior Mason Morgan (two walks) both contested two runs.
Senior Nick Tarantino pitched seven innings on the mound. He allowed just one run and one walk, while striking out five batters.
Freshman John Montour closed out the game for the Majors in the bottom of the eighth inning. He struck out one batter with one hit against and zero runs.
Millsaps (10-3) saw an early 1-0 lead after Ousley singled through the left side to score Berry in the first.
In the top of the second inning, Millsaps extended their lead to 2-0 after Berry singled through the right side to send Cross home.
Moments later, Pelle grounded into a double play, but plated Bounds to move the team ahead, 3-0.
Berry continued to erupt in the top of the fourth inning following a single to third base, scoring Cross once again.
A double to left center by Pelle brought Berry to the final base, pushing Millsaps ahead 5-0.
Scott then hit a home run to score Pelle, giving the Majors a 7-0 lead with two RBIs.
Millsaps continued to attack in the top of the fifth inning as Bounds singled and Morgan crossed home plate to better the Owls, 8-0.
The Majors extended their advantage to 10-0 after Berry fired up a double to send both Bounds and Cross home.
MUW finally got on board in the bottom of the sixth inning with a run.
In the top of the eighth inning, Millsaps answered once again. Cross doubled up the middle to send Morgan home.
Montour stepped onto the mound in the bottom of the eighth frame to help the Majors take down MUW, 11-1 with the run-rule on Friday.
The Majors will continue the Firehouse Classic on Saturday against host Huntingdon College, beginning at 3:30 p.m. in Montgomery, Ala. Live video and live stats will be available at gomajors.com.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College baseball 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.
