February 9, 2008

JACKSON – Sophomore Max Berry struck out the only batter he faced in the ninth in relief of John David Childs and closer Drew Maddox got out of a jam with runners on the corners with one out as Millsaps held off a strong rally from the Ozarks in a 6-5 home win.

The University of the Ozarks (2-1) got on the scoreboard in the opening frame, using a two-out double from designated hitter Robby Finnell to left centerfield to score John Glenn from second after he reached base safely on a single to left.

After getting shut down in order in the bottom of the first, Millsaps (2-0) plated three runs in the second inning off a pair of walks to take a 3-1 lead. A free pass issued to Hunter Owen to leadoff the inning allowed the red-hot Quinn Salmon to launch his third home run in two games over the leftfield wall, followed by an RBI-single from Ronnie Causey three batters later that scored Joe Blades after a walk.

The teams traded single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, with the Majors clinging to a 4-3 lead heading into the eighth inning.

Childs, who relieved starting pitcher Travis Bogue to start the seventh, threw a perfect eighth for the Majors with a pair of strikeouts and a fly out to right field to give Millsaps a pair of strong innings on the mound.

The Majors pushed their lead out to 6-3 in the bottom of the frame, taking advantage of an error at first and home from the Eagles on one play to score Salmon, followed by a pinch-hit, RBI-double from freshman Will Hawkins. Hawkins put a ball right down the leftfield line that rolled all the way to the wall and scored pinch runner Jeremy Aliff after the freshman stole second the play before.

Ozarks mounted a valiant comeback in the top of the ninth, putting runners on first and second off a pair of walks with just one down. Glenn, who finished 3-for-4 on the day, stepped up and delivered a shot to centerfield two batters later that rolled under the glove of the Majors' Hunter Owen and allowed David Smith and Cory Briggs to score.

With the lead down to 6-5 for Millsaps and runners standing on the corners after a walk, Maddox struck out Bruce Cameron for the second out and got a huge play from Billy Murphy at second that ended the game. Murphy chased down what looked to be an infield single from Finnell, moving swiftly to his right and firing an off-balance throw over to first.

Bogue, the senior left-hander from Madison, was credited with his first win of the season for Millsaps after tossing 6.0 innings and scattering five hits, two runs and a pair of Ks. Maddox was credited with the save after throwing the final 0.2 innings.

Salmon led the Majors offensively for a second-straight game, going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and a pair of runs scored, followed by hits from Hawkins and Causey.

Despite the loss, Todd Koch pitched a strong game on the mound for the Eagles, scattering six strikeouts, three hits and three runs (all earned) over 5.0 innings of work.

The final day of the Wilson/DeMarini Classic will wrap up tomorrow with LaGrange and the Ozarks playing the 11 a.m. game, followed by Millsaps and Rhodes at 2:30 p.m.