February 13, 2007

JACKSON -- The visitors from Mississippi College plated six runs in the fourth inning and jumped out to a 7-3 lead, before Millsaps rallied for a run in the fourth, a run in the seventh and three runs in the bottom of the eighth on a base-clearing double from Hunter Owen to complete the 8-7 come-from-behind win.

Less than seven hours after being named SCAC Offensive Player of the Week with five RBIs and two HRs in a 3-for-6 weekend, Owen delivered the game-winning hit to top off a 3-for-5 evening and give the Majors their third straight win at home to open the season.

On a cold, miserable, rainy night at Twenty Field, about 85 dedicated Mississippi College and Millsaps fans fought through 20 mph winds to watch a 3 hour and 11 minute game that ended in impressive fashion.

MC (1-2, 0-0 ASC) got on the scoreboard first, plating a run in the top half of the second when junior Matthew Newman singled home Max Parks from second base after Parks had reached base on a hit-by-pitch.

Millsaps (3-0, 0-0 SCAC) responded right back in the bottom half of the inning, taking a brief 2-1 lead on Derrik Boland's 2 RBI double down the rightfield line that scored Hunter Owen from third and John Pacillo from second.

The lead sat at 3-1 in favor of Millsaps in the top of the fourth, before the Choctaws rallied for six runs in the inning to take a comfortable 7-3 advantage.

After Parks reached on an error by 3B Hunter Abrams to leadoff the inning, J.R. Farnham leaned into a pitch to put runners at first and second with no outs.

Head coach Jim Page quickly jumped out of the Majors dugout to question the call by home plate umpire Joe Wortham, arguing that Farnham made no attempt to get out of the way of the Brent Buffa delivery.

Nevertheless the play stood as called and the Choctaws went on to rally for six runs off Buffa in the frame, four of which turned out to be unearned runs.

With a 7-3 deficit staring the 13th-ranked team in the country in the face, the Majors slowly but surely chipped away at the MC lead.

Millsaps shortened the gap to 7-4 in the bottom of the seventh after two quick groundouts. Pacillo drew a walk, stole second and then advanced home on a Luke Morrow RBI double to right field.

The real damage came from the defending SCAC champions in the eighth, taking advantage of a MC pitching change that brought Steven McDevitt in for Ryan Willis.

With one out in the inning and Russ Boyd safe at third on a single, Nick Crawford at second by way of a walk and Justin Carter at first on a walk, Owen delivered a shot to centerfield that scored all three runners and put the Majors on top for good, 8-7.

Sophomore closer Drew Maddox did the rest from there, forcing Newman to hit into a fielder's choice with two outs that allowed Crawford to tag out Gabe Gattis at second to end the threat.

Maddox, who came in in relief of Travis Bogue in the eighth, picked up the win for Millsaps, surrendering only one hit and striking out two in two innings of work. McDevitt was hit with the loss for MC.

The Majors will hit the road for their next two games, traveling to Memphis to face off with Sewanee and Rhodes College. First pitch for Saturday's game is scheduled for 11 a.m. while Sunday's first pitch is slated for a 2 p.m. start.

Millsaps will be back at home Tuesday, Feb. 20, playing host to Belhaven College in game two of the race for the Cowboy Maloney Series Trophy. Game time is at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live by ESPN Radio 1240 AM.