February 16, 2008

ATLANTA, Ga. – Freshman Aaron Williams picked up his second win in as many outings, tossing 7.0 solid innings and striking out seven while surrendering two hits and one run, and Millsaps benefited from four Emory errors to upset the No. 5 Eagles 5-1 on Saturday in the opening game of a two-game set at Chappell Park.

Known as one of the toughest parks to play in on the road, Millsaps hit Emory with just its sixth home loss in their last 43 games (37-6). The Eagles own a decisive 229-68-1 (.771) record at Chappell Park since its inception in 1995.

A solid combination of pitching and hitting has helped carry the Majors to a 5-0 record to open the season, extending their regular-season win streak out to 13 games dating back to last season. Emory dropped to 0-1 and was held to just one run off three hits.

Williams, a product of Mandeville High School, is quickly establishing himself as one of the premier pitchers in a tough starting rotation, combining for a 2-0 record and a 0.75 ERA in his first two collegiate starts. He has struck out 13 batters against just three walks in 12.0 innings of work, while allowing only three hits and one run.

The national runner-up from a year ago after posting a 43-10 record, Emory jumped on the freshman early, putting the first two runners on base off a single and a walk and eventually scoring several batters later on a balk from Williams to make the score 1-0.

From there, Williams shut the Eagles down, retiring 20-straight batters he faced before senior Brandon Ingram relieved him in the top of the eighth inning with a 5-1 lead. Ingram tossed 2.0 innings of scoreless ball and struck out three while walking one.

Millsaps scored four of its five runs in the second frame off Emory starter Adam Genn, using a pair of RBI-doubles from Hunter Abrams and Will Hawkins in addition to a sac fly from Tait Hendrix and an RBI-single from Quinn Salmon.

Freshman pitcher Matt Ryckman made a successful Emory debut after the Majors chased Genn in the fourth, allowing one unearned run and one hit in 4.1 innings of relief work despite walking seven batters.

Six different Majors picked up a hit in the win, with Abrams, Salmon, Hawkins and Hendrix all picking up RBIs on the afternoon. The Eagles were led offensively by David Hissey who picked up two of Emory's three hits on the day.

Sunday's game scheduled for 1 p.m. ET has been moved up to 10:30 a.m. due to bad weather in the Atlanta area. Listen live on Jackson's ESPN Radio 1240 AM.

For those of you who will make the road trip (any road trips), bring an FM radio to the game to listen to the broadcast live at the stadium. Check with ESPN broadcaster Derrel Palmer prior to first pitch to check the frequency.