JACKSON, Miss. - The Millsaps College baseball team finished its regular season by blanking Southwestern University in a three-game series over the weekend. On Saturday, the Majors split a doubleheader against the Pirates, securing a 4–2 triumph in Game One while falling 9–5 in Game Two, before using a strong team effort to mount a comeback and outlast the Pirates 12–11 in Game Three on Sunday at Twenty Field.
On Sunday, the Millsaps baseball team also recognized nine senior student-athletes following a pre-game ceremony before the first pitch on Senior Day, honoring their incredible hard work over four years with the program.
These players demonstrated great leadership, and the impact they made on the game of baseball at Millsaps College will never be forgotten.
Seniors are Andrew Bradley, Stewart Bonnecaze, Layne Cross, Ryan Laiche, Mason Morgan, Weston Myers, EJ Ousley, Sam Thomas, and RJ VanBeber
Game One: Millsaps 4, Southwestern 2, W
Freshman Jackson Devey pitched 4.1 innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out four batters.
Sophomore John Montour took over in relief, pitching 4.2 innings and securing the win with three strikeouts and only three hits allowed.
Montour was efficient, throwing 54 pitches with 40 strikes, contributing to the Majors' overall solid pitching performance.
Junior Wesley Grant contributed significantly by scoring two runs and adding a triple and a stolen base against the Pirates.
Sophomore Carston Williams drove in two runs, marking a crucial offensive contribution in Game One.
Senior EJ Ousley showcased power with a home run and tallied two RBIs, enhancing the team's scoring.
Freshman Hudson Moberly recorded two hits, including a double, while crossing the plate to add to the team's tally.
Grant initiated Millsaps' early lead by walking and advancing on a wild pitch and steal, eventually scoring on Williams' groundout in the first inning to give the Majors a 1-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Southwestern battled back strong to tie the game with a double to score.
However, Millsaps responded as Moberly doubled to left field, followed by Ousley's two-run homer, reclaiming the lead at 3–1 and making a statement.
The Pirates narrowed the gap in the fifth inning with a bases-loaded walk to score a runner.
Millsaps extended its lead with Grant tripling and scoring on Williams' sacrifice fly, making it 4-2 in the bottom of the inning for the Majors.
In the top of the ninth inning, Millsaps allowed no runs and two hits as Montour finished the Majors off strong on top of the hill.
Game Two: Southwestern 5, Millsaps 9, L
Sophomore Fred Fields entered in relief, pitching 0.2 of an innings, giving up two hits and one run.
Senior Weston Myers contributed 2.2 inning on the hill surrendering one earned run on two hits, with three walks and a hit batter, while striking out one.
Classmate RJ Vanbeber closed out the game with one scoreless inning, allowing one hit and securing his first striking out in his collegiate career on the mound.
Grant contributed significantly by scoring two runs and hitting a double during the game.
Morgan added to the effort with two RBIs and one run scored. Williams was effective at the plate, recording two hits and one RBI.
Senior Layne Cross also made an impact with two hits, including a double, in the outing.
Southwestern jumped to an early lead in the first inning scoring on a throwing error, and crossing home plate on a groundout, giving the Pirates a 2–0 lead.
In the second inning, a double brought home a runner to extend the Pirates lead to 3-0.
Southwestern rushed the Majors with another attack at the top of the third, to expend their damage to 4-0.
The visitors added two additional runs in the top of the fifth to move further ahead, 6-0.
However, Millsaps got on the board in the sixth inning as sophomore Wes Carr reached on an error and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Morgan.
In the eighth, Millsaps put together a rally as Grant walked and advanced to third on a single by Williams.
Morgan's single brought Grant home, followed by Moberly's RBI single, which scored Williams to shorten their deficit 8-3.
Ousley added a sacrifice fly to bring in Morgan, closing the gap to 8-5. Williams taking an opportunity to record a sacrifice fly to right field to bring Grant across home plate.
Millsaps battled strong in the ninth inning placing the ball in the right spots while also placing a team effort, the Pirates would sneak away and take Game Two, 9-5 on Saturday.
Game Three: Millsaps 12, Southwestern 11, W
With a strong willingness to compete, the Majors displayed determination in a comeback victory against Southwestern, highlighted by timely hits and solid defensive plays to sink the Pirates in a competitive matchup on Senior Day.
Senior Sam Thomas delivered a solid performance on the mound, pitching 3.0 innings and allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out eight batters.
The Ridgeland, Miss., native maintained is composure throwing 66 pitches with 41 strikes to became the winning pitcher on the mound to end his collegiate career.
Classmate Andrew Bradley pitched 2.2 innings, striking out three batters,
Senior Ryan Laiche pitched 3.1 and recorded six strikeouts to top the pirates in Game Three.
Morgan made a strong impact by hitting a grand slam and driving in four runs as he powered his way through the Pirates.
Grant contributed significantly with three hits, including two doubles, and scored two runs.
Williams added four RBIs with his two hits. Thomas excelled on the mound, striking out eight batters over three innings while allowing only one earned run.
The Majors responded with a run when Carr doubled and eventually scored on an error, bringing the score to 2-1 in favor of Southwestern after two innings.
Southwestern extended its lead in the third inning with two more runs. However, Millsaps took control in the fourth inning, scoring six runs.
Morgan hit a crucial grand slam, and Williams added an RBI single to give the Majors a 7-4 lead through four innings.
In the fifth inning, Southwestern cut the lead to 7-6 with a two-run double. Millsaps added a run in the sixth inning when Grant scored on a fielder's choice, making it 8-7 in favor of Millsaps through six innings.
The seventh inning saw both teams scoring four runs each. Millsaps capitalized on a wild pitch and a two-RBI single by Williams, extending its lead to 12-11.
The score remained unchanged in the final two innings, securing a narrow victory for the Majors with a final score of 12-11.
As the season comes to a close, Millsaps looks ahead when the SAA announces the All-Conference Team this week.
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.
