February 27, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Freshman Tony Malaschak and senior Derrik Boland both homered and five different Majors recorded multiple RBIs, including junior Russ Boyd with four, as Millsaps exploded for 17 runs off 16 hits to rock Jacksonville State at home, 17-3, and earn a two-game split with the Division I Gamecocks at Rudy Abbott Field.

Senior right-hander Brandon Ingram tossed a gem of a game on the mound for Millsaps to improve his record to 2-0 on the year, scattering just five hits and allowing only one run while striking out four in 7.0 innings of work. It marked Ingram's 10th-straight win dating back to last season, as he has gone a combined 12-2 in his career thus far.

"It was probably the biggest win in Millsaps history," 20th-year head coach Jim Page said. "We found the spark we were needing today and for the first time this season we fed off each other both on the field and in the dugout. Ingram pitched a great game for us."

Millsaps (7-5) came out firing from its opening at-bat, building an 11-1 lead through three innings after scoring two in the first, four in the second and five in the third off three different Gamecock pitchers. The Majors shook off a four-hit performance from an 11-3 loss yesterday and combined for 11 hits through three innings and 16 overall, doing most of the damage to JState ace Ben Tootle.

Tootle started the second inning but was pulled in the third after allowing nine runs and walking two batters in just 1.0 inning on the mound. Jason Zylstra relieved Tootle in the third and allowed just one hit and had four strikeouts in 3.0 innings of work.

The Majors put up another five-spot on the 'Cocks in the sixth, using a leadoff walk to freshman Josh Ordeneaux, followed by two more players reaching base safely to load the bases. Junior Bryant Palmerton got the scoring started, delivering an RBI-single through the right side to score Ordeneaux before an RBI-single from Hunter Abrams, an RBI from Boyd and a two-run shot (2) from Malaschak to left field to cap the scoring.

JState (1-4), who is coming off NCAA Regional Appearances in 2004 and 2006, suffered from the same cold the Majors had in the opening game of the set. The Gamecocks struggled to find their rhythm on offense through the first seven innings, picking up just five hits and crossing the plate only once, before scoring single runs in the eighth and ninth.

Abrams led the Majors' 16-hit attack by going 4-for-6 from the plate with three RBIs, while seven other players in the lineup recorded a hit, including Boyd, Boland, Palmerton and Hunter Owen who delivered multiple hits. Todd Cunningham led JState by going 2-for-5.

Ingram was credited with the win for Millsaps, throwing 90 total pitches (62 strikes), while Nick Hetland (0-2) was given the loss for the Gamecocks after surrendering two runs and five hits in the opening frame.

Millsaps will continue an 8-game road swing this weekend, traveling to LaGrange College (3-3) for a three-game series at Cleaveland Field. All three games can be heard live on Jackson's ESPN Radio 1240 AM and online at www.espnradio1240.com.