JACKSON, Miss. — The Millsaps College softball team had an impressive doubleheader against Centenary College, winning both matchups by scores of 7-6 and 3-1 in their season opener on Saturday at the Millsaps Softball Complex.
Game 1: 7-6, W
Junior Allana Vasquez pitched in 6.2 innings inside the circle while striking out seven batters on the day. She totaled 111 pitches, including 71 for strikes.
Sophomore Hailey Marange made a brief appearance, recording the final out without allowing a hit to secure the win.
Sophomore Caroline Mathis stood out with three hits and three RBIs, including a double. She also scored a run and walked.
Classmate Brynn Arena contributed three hits, a run and three stolen bases, showcasing her speed on the base paths.
Sophomore Hailey Peterson also had three hits, adding a run and stolen base, while junior Kadence Cannon recorded two RBIs, two hits and scored two runs. Cannon further posted a walk and a steal.
In the first game, Millsaps edged out a tense 7-6 victory. Millsaps showcased a consistent offensive effort, tallying 12 hits and capitalizing on two key doubles.
The scoring began in the second inning when Peterson and Arena both singled. Both runners advanced on steals before Cannon grounded home Peterson for a 1–0 lead.
Centenary responded in the third inning with two runs, pulling ahead 2–1 after three singles and a sacrifice fly.
Millsaps answered back in the fourth as Arena tallied a lead-off doubled to left center, setting the stage for Mathis to tie the game at 2–2 with a single.
The pivotal fifth inning saw Millsaps take control when a Centenary error brought Arena home following her fielder's choice and steal of second base.
Mathis later delivered a double to center field, driving in two more runs, extending the lead to 5–2. Millsaps then added a run in the sixth with three consecutive singles and a sacrifice fly by Cannon, making it 6–2.
In a dramatic final inning, Centenary mounted a comeback, scoring four runs to knot the game at 6-6. However, Millsaps held their ground, securing the win despite the late surge in the bottom of the same frame.
Mathis singled with one out and would reach third off a Centenary error. With two outs, she scored the walk-off run courtesy of a wild pitch.
Game 2: 3-1, W
In the second game, Millsaps secured a 3-1 victory, bolstered by a strong 11-hit performance, four stolen bases and a strong pitching performance.
Sears recorded three hits and one RBI, while also recording two stolen bases. Arena posted a 3-for-3 outing, scored one run, and added a stolen base.
Marange limited Centenary to five hits and one earned run for 5.0 innings, while the defense played error-free, recording 21 putouts.
Junior Julie Amacher pitched two innings without allowing a hit, recording a strikeout and earned the win.
The fourth inning saw Millsaps break through when Arena singled and scored on a single by sophomore Ava Palumbo, putting Millsaps ahead 1-0.
Centenary responded with a run in the top of the fifth to level the score, but Millsaps limited further damage.
In the sixth inning Millsaps seized control. Arena, Cannon and senior Julia Strain led off with singles to load the bases. After a force out at home plate, Mathis later batted home Cannon with another fielder's choice and force play at home. Cannon scored successfully sliding in safely.
Sears followed with a single up the middle, driving in Briscoe to give Millsaps a 3-1 lead.
The Millsaps defense, anchored by Amacher, held strong in the final inning, completing a double play and a ground out to end the game and secure the victory.
Millsaps will look to continue their winning streak as they travel to Huntingdon College with a noon doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 14. Live video and live stats will be provided at gomajors.com.
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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.
