JACKSON, Miss. – The Millsaps College softball team battled No. 9 nationally ranked Belhaven into extras on Wednesday. Belhaven (25-7) eked out a 2-1 decision in eight innings at the Millsaps College Softball Complex.
The Majors were led by a pair of effective pitchers in junior
Julie Amacher and sophomore
Hailey Marange.
Amacher tossed the first 4.1 innings, holding the Blazers to one run, which was unearned. She struck out two batters, and only surrendered a hit and a walk.
Marange closed the final 3.2 innings, including the eighth for Millsaps (17-9). The Madisonville, La., product allowed just an unearned run with no walks against. She struck out one Blazer, while four hits were recorded.
Sophomore
Hailey Peterson went 2-for-3 at the plate against the Blazers, while recording one run.
Classmate
Caroline Mathis boasted two hits and one double in a solid finish against her rivalry opponents.
Both junior
Ella Morgan Sears and sophomore
Brynn Arena provided the other hits for the Majors.
In the bottom of the second inning, Millsaps got off to a hot start as Peterson singled through the left side.
Freshman
Liza Gregg continued Millsaps' momentum with a sacrifice bunt, scoring Peterson from third and giving the Majors a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third, Millsaps recorded three fly outs to silence the Blazers' offense.
Millsaps continued to attack the Blazers as Arena doubled up the middle in the bottom of the third. However, a pop out ended the opportunity moments later.
The Blazers finally responded in the top of the fifth inning with a leadoff double and walk, two batters later. A passed put runners in scoring position before an RBI single tied the contest at 1-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, Mathis took charge with a double to left field. However, the Blazers answered with a 6-4 double play on defense in the infield to end the inning.
At the top of the sixth, the Majors held the Blazers to one hit and zero runs, as Peterson handled a groundout an unassisted tag of second base. Sears then tracked down a flyout as in the top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Blazers allowed zero runs and no hits, pushing the contest into extra innings after a hard-fought battle by both teams.
Beginning extra innings with a runner placed on second base, the Blazers advanced to third of a bunt and an error. The throw would allow Belhaven to score on the play and take a 2-1 advantage.
Marange worked well to escape further damage by when a blooper was caught by Peterson in shallow center field. Peterson, facing the outfield fence, was able to turn and throw a Blazer runner out at the plate, ending the threat.
With one out in the top of the eighth, Mathis singled to left field, but the runner placed at second had to stay at second base.
A strikeout and pop out unfortunately stopped the chance, allowing the Blazers to escape with a 2-1 decision.
The Majors will be back in action on Saturday, to face Sewanee in a conference doubleheader matchup in Sewanee, Tenn., starting at 1 p.m. with live video and live stats 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.
