CONWAY, Ark. – The Millsaps softball team went on the road and swept Hendrix College, 3-0, 6-2 and 6-3 at Warrior Softball Field on Saturday and Sunday.
The Majors earned the No. 2 seed in the 2025 SAA Softball Championship, which is scheduled to take place at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga., May 8-11. Millsaps (22-12, 11-4 SAA) now has the most wins since the 2017 season.
The Majors will compete in the double-elimination tournament and first face either No. 3 seed Rhodes or No. 6 seed Centre at 6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday. Live video and live stats will be available at gomajors.com.
Game 1: 3-0, W
Millsaps started the weekend strong with key hits and an excellent pitching performance by sophomore Allana Vasquez in Game One of a Saturday doubleheader. She pitched all seven innings inside the circle, striking out five batters while allowing three hits, two walks and zero runs.
A 3-0 shutout performance saw freshman Hailey Peterson bat 3-for-4, while registering an RBI double, scored a run and a stolen base.
Classmates Kodi Jimmie (RBI, stolen base), Brynn Arena (run, triple) and Kirsten Gilchrist all went 2-for-3 inside the batter's box.
Sophomores Ella Morgan Sears (run, double) and Kadence Cannon (RBI, stolen base) each recorded a hit against the Warriors.
In the top of the first inning, Sears attacked the Warriors with a leadoff double to ignite the Majors' early offensive firepower.
Moments later, Peterson blasted another double to left field to score Sears and give the Majors a 1-0 lead.
After a strong start by Peterson and Sears, Jimmie hit a single to right field, bringing Peterson home to put the Majors ahead, 2-0.
In the bottom of the first inning, Hendrix looked to score. Sears and Gilchrist made two catches in the outfield to disrupt the Warriors' momentum, while Vasquez tossed an inning-ending strikeout.
Arena continued the Majors' team effort by blasting a triple down the left field line to keep the heat going in the second frame.
A couple batters later, a bunt single by Cannon brought Arena home to extend the Majors' lead to 3-0.
Gilchrist and Arena opened the fourth with singles, but Hendrix held defensively.
The Warriors then threatened in the fifth with their first hits of the game, but a pop up, fielder's choice and ground out extinguished the chance.
Hendrix stopped the Majors lead from expanding after forcing a double play in the sixth.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Vasquez struck out the first batter swinging and her defense did the rest behind her. Peterson, Cannon and Jimmie closed out the game on a 5-4-3 double play to complete Game One with a 3-0 triumph.
Game 2: 6-2, W
Millsaps kept their winning ways going with another strong team effort, securing a 6-2 triumph in Game Two on Saturday.
Seniors Kinsey Smith (home run, RBI, run, stolen base) and Ali Nolen (RBI double, run) each went 2-for-3. Smith recorded her second home run of the season and fifth of her Millsaps career in the win.
Peterson (run, stolen base), Vasquez, Jimmie (RBI, run) along with junior Tayler Gonzales (RBI, run) and Cannon (RBI) each contested one hit against the Warriors.
Peterson (10-5) also pitched all seven innings for the Majors. The Metairie, La., native struck out one batter, while allowing two runs, zero walks and eight hits on the day.
In the top of the first inning, Peterson prompted a single and stole second base to give the Majors an early boost by reaching scoring position.
Jimmie singled a hit through the right side, scoring Peterson to give the Majors a 1-0 lead.
Continuing the Majors' hot streak, Nolen stepped into the batter's box and launched a double down the right-field line, sending Jimmie home to help extend the Millsaps advantage to 2-0.
In the top of the second inning, Millsaps saw Smith blast a solo home run beyond left field to extend the margin to 3-0.
After a well-rounded performance by the Majors, Hendrix finally got on board in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut their deficit down to two runs with a double, ground out and sacrifice fly.
Millsaps soon followed in the top of the sixth inning with a Nolen single, freshman Ava Palumbo hit by pitch and Gonzales single.
Gonzales' hit forced a costly throwing error by the Warriors, allowing both Nolen and Palumbo to score and make it 5-1.
Minutes later, a sacrifice fly from Cannon would send Gonzales home to increase the Major lead to 6-1.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Hendrix nearly scored again after loading the bases with three singles after two initial ground outs. A pop out to Cannon stopped the opportunity.
Down to their final out in the seventh, the Warriors would score an additional run courtesy of a single, double and second single.
Millsaps put away the final inning with a ground out to Nolen at shortstop and secured a 6-2 victory on Saturday.
Game 3: 6-3, W
The Majors battled in a pitcher's duel in Game Three and needed late-game heroics to sweep the series with a 6-3 win on Sunday.
Vasquez pitched another complete game, striking out six Warriors with no walks. She only surrendered two earned runs against seven hits.
Gilchrist (two RBIs, stolen base, run) and Jimmie (two doubles, two runs) both went 2-for-4.
Sears (run), Peterson, Nolen (run) and Smith (two RBIs, two walks, double) all earned a hit.
Jimmie led the top of the fourth inning with a leadoff double and later scored from third off an Arena forced error, giving the Majors a 1-0 lead.
The game remained low scoring until the bottom of the fifth. Hendrix grabbed a 3-1 lead following four singles and an error. A 5-3 double play closed out further damage.
Millsaps began to battle back with a run in the top of the sixth. Jimmie continued her strong game with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Gilchrist would bring Jimmie home with a two-out single up the middle, making it a 3-2 deficit.
Needing a spark and looking to finish second in the SAA standings with a win, the Majors came alive in the seventh. Placing second would ensure a first-game bye in the six-team SAA tournament bracket.
Sears opened with a single before an error off a sacrifice bunt by Peterson managed to tie up the game.
Vasquez walked and was pinch ran for by Palumbo. Down to the final out, Nolen singled to left field and moved Palumbo to second.
Gilchrist then sailed a ball into shallow center field, but Palumbo managed to score at home on a collision play at home plate. As the ball rolled free, Palumbo touched home to give Millsaps a crucial 4-3 edge.
After an Arena walk, Smith added insurance runs with a two-RBI as Nolen and Gilchrist touched home to make it 6-3.
Vasquez forced a fly out and pair of ground outs to send Millsaps home with the series sweep and Sunday triumph.
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.
