CONWAY, Ark. — The Millsaps softball team split a doubleheader with Hendrix College during their spring break trip, winning the first game with a decisive 5-0 victory and falling narrowly in the second game, 4-3, in the final innings on Thursday night at the Warriors Softball Field.
Game 1: Millsaps 5, Hendrix 0
Sophomore Hailey Marange delivered an impressive performance, contributing to a strong showing for the Majors in Game One.
Marange completed seven innings without allowing a single earned run in a shutout against the Warriors.
The Madisonville, La., native faced 26 batters, giving up just three hits and two walks while striking out two batters, improving her pitching record to 5-1 on the season.
Sophomore Brynn Arena scored three runs and collected two hits, adding two stolen bases to her performance.
Junior Allana Vasquez contributed two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs.
Classmate Kadence Cannon recorded four assists and added two hits with one RBI.
The Majors took an early lead in the contest when junior Ella Morgan Sears scored on an RBI single by Vasquez, making it 1-0 as Millsaps moved quickly around the bases.
In the third inning, Arena advanced to second base after a single and a stolen base and was then driven in by Cannon with an RBI single, increasing Millsaps' lead to 2-0.
In the fifth inning, Millsaps extended their lead to 3-0 with an RBI double from Vasquez, which allowed Arena to score after reaching base on a fielding error.
The contest would get out of reach as Millsaps continued to attack the Warriors by adding two more runs in the final inning.
The Majors continued to fight off the Warriors with their swords, as Arena singled and stole second, while sophomore Hailey Peterson reached on a fielding error.
Completing the final job for the Majors, freshman Liza Gregg's two-RBI single to center field brought the final score to 5-0, as Millsaps maintained their focus each inning to win the first game against the Warriors.
Game 2: Hendrix 4, Millsaps 3
Vasquez pitched in 3.0 innings, allowing two hits while striking out five batters and walking no batters in her Game Two appearance inside the circle.
Vasquez maintained a WHIP of 0.67 and threw 39 pitches, 27 of which were strikes, demonstrating effective control.
Sears recorded a standout performance by driving in three runs and hitting a home run.
Sophomore Caroline Mathis contributed offensively by scoring a run and reaching base twice with a hit and a walk.
Classmate Ava Palumbo added to the team's efforts by scoring a run and collecting a hit.
The Warriors took control in the fourth inning with a double to left center, driving in three runs, following a triple that brought in another, setting the score at 4–0 for the host.
In the fifth inning, Millsaps responded with a surge, initiated by Palumbo's walk and Mathis's single.
Sears then hit her first home run on the season to left center outside the Warriors' fence, driving in three runs and closing the gap.
The score remained still throughout the sixth and seventh innings. Hendrix was able to hold onto their 4-3 lead after a challenging game against their opponents and a strong effort by the Majors in Thursday's Game Two.
The Majors will remain on the road to face Lyon College on Saturday in a doubleheader in Batesville, Ark., beginning at 11 a.m. Live video and live stats will be provided at gomajors.com.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College softball program this year 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.
