February 17, 2008

ATLANTA, Ga. – In a reversal of fortunes from a day ago, 5th-ranked Emory capitalized off a costly error from Millsaps in the bottom of the sixth inning to plate the go-ahead runs and hold off a sweep from the visitors in a 4-1 win on Sunday at Chappell Park.

Millsaps was dealt its first loss of 2008 to fall to 5-1, while the host Eagles moved their record to 1-1 on the year in snapping a 13-game regular season win streak for the Majors.

Millsaps plated the first run of the game in the top of the third to break a scoreless tie, using an RBI-groundout from Russ Boyd that allowed Billy Murphy to score from third after the junior reached base safely on a leadoff single through the infield.

Emory was held scoreless through the first five innings, thanks in part to strong pitching from Millsaps' senior left-hander Travis Bogue, before finally crossing the plate three times in the bottom of the sixth to take its first lead of the game at 3-1.

Back-to-back singles for the Eagles from freshman Jeremy Bolian and sophomore Tommy Dugan put runners on first and second with no outs and senior David Hissey hit a ground ball to third base, which was thrown away, that allowed both runners to score. Hissey advanced all the way to third on the play, scoring minutes later on a wild pitch.

The Eagles would tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on a sac fly by Joe Roth, the preseason All-American’s first RBI of the campaign, to make the final count 4-1.

Bogue (1-1) was hit with the loss for Millsaps after scattering five hits, three strikeouts and three runs (all unearned) in 6.1 innings of work, while freshman southpaw Elliott Coor picked up his first collegiate win after tossing 7.0 innings and allowing just one run.

Offensively, the Majors were led by Boyd who went 2-for-4 on the day with an RBI, followed by Hunter Owen, Bryant Palmerton and Murphy who each picked up a hit. The Eagles picked up hits from six different players, with Roth earning the lone RBI.

Millsaps will continue a four-game road swing on Tuesday, traveling down Lakeland Drive to face off with NAIA-foe Belhaven College (6-8, 2-7 GCAC). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Smith-Wills Stadium in Game 2 of the Cowboy Maloney Trophy Series.

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.