JACKSON, Miss. - The Millsaps College softball team wrapped up its regular season with a hard-fought three-game series against Southwestern University over the weekend. On Saturday, the Majors split a doubleheader with the Pirates, edging out a 5–4 victory in Game One before falling 3–1 in Game Two. Millsaps bounced back on Sunday, rallying to defeat the visitors 4–3 at the Millsaps College Softball Complex.
Game One: Millsaps 5, Southwestern 4, W
Sophomore Hailey Peterson pitched 2.0 innings, allowing two hits, and striking out one batter
The Metairie La., native earned the win, improving her record to 4-3 after closing out the seventh inning with a dominate performance.
Freshman Hailey Marange pitched 5.0 innings inside the circle she struck out three batters and threw 67 strikes out of 94 pitches
Junior Kadence Cannon highlighted her speed, scoring three runs and stealing two bases. Peterson contributed both on the mound and at the plate, pitching 2 innings with one strikeout and recording two hits with one RBI.
Sophomore Ava Palumbo drove in two runs with her single hit, and classmate Kodi Jimmie added two hits and scored a run to push the Majors tempo.
In the second inning, Millsaps responded to Southwestern's early scoring. Jimmie singled to center field, and Cannon followed with a single to right field.
Peterson then delivered a single to left field, bringing home Jimmie. A sacrifice bunt by Palumbo allowed Cannon to score, giving the Majors a 2–1 lead by the end of the inning.
Millsaps extended its lead in the fourth inning. Jimmie started with a single to keep the Majors in motion. Soon afterward, Cannon reached on a fielder's choice and later stole second base to keep the team's momentum going.
Freshman Liza Gregg's single moved Cannon to third, and she eventually scored on Palumbo's single, making it 3–1.
Southwestern tied the game at 4–4 in the sixth inning. The Pirates tripled and scored on a single and later scored on a groundout, leveling the score.
The Majors regained the lead in the seventh inning as sophomore Caroline Mathis walked and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt providing a tough effort.
Classmate Brynn Arena, eventually scoring an error by the Pirates second baseman to take back their lead to secure a 5-4 triumph.
Game Two: Southwestern 3, Millsaps 1, L
After earning the win in Game One, Peterson delivered another strong performance in Game Two, pitching 7.0 innings while standing her ground in the circle and doing her best to fend off the Pirates.
Peterson allowed three runs—one earned—on seven hits and issued no walks. She recorded two strikeouts over 75 pitches, 56 of which were strikes.
Junior Ella Morgan Sears contributed with one hit and showcased her speed with two stolen bases.
Jimmie was effective at the plate, recording three hits in the game. Mathis also recorded a hit and a stolen base.
Millsaps struck first in the opening inning as Sears singled up the middle and then stole second and third.
Arena hit a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Sears to score and giving Millsaps an early 1–0 lead. The score remained 1–0 through the first inning.
Southwestern turned the game around in the sixth inning, setting up scoring opportunities with a single and a stolen base to take a 3–1 lead by the end of the inning.
Millsaps attempted a comeback in the final innings. Jimmie singled to center field in the seventh, but the Majors ultimately fell to Southwestern in Game Two on Saturday.
Game Three Millsaps 4, Southwestern 3, L
Vasquez delivered a complete game performance, pitching seven innings while allowing three earned runs while striking out five batters.
She recorded five strikeouts and issued two walks in the effort. Vasquez threw a total of 121 pitches, with 81 of them being strikes, securing her sixth win of the season, improving her record to 6-3.
Cannon stole two bases and added a hit in her performance. Senior Julia Strain recorded two hits in her final collegiate appearance, giving her all throughout her four years on the Millsaps softball team.
Sears scored a run and collected one hit and an RBI display a strong outing for the Majors.
In the first inning, Mathis walked and advanced to third on Jimmie's single.
The Prairieville, La., native then scored on a wild pitch to give Millsaps an early lead. The score was 1–0 after the first inning.
The fifth inning saw Millsaps extend its lead significantly.Strain singled and was replaced by pinch runner freshman Klaire Purewal, who scored on Sears' single.
Sophomore Kirsten Gilchrist and Sears both scored on Vasquez's single down the right field line, putting Millsaps ahead 4–1 by the end of the fifth inning.
In the seventh inning, Southwestern attempted a comeback, bringing the score to 4–3. However, Millsaps held on to secure the win.
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 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.
