March 3, 2007

JACKSON -- In a battle of two of the nation's Top 20 teams, starting pitchers Brent Buffa and Jason Glushon were caught up in a pitcher's duel that saw the 19th-ranked Emory University Eagles benefit from a four-run eighth inning to send Millsaps to its first home loss of the season, 5-1.

Millsaps held on tight to a 1-0 lead on the heels of Hunter Owen's RBI-groundout in the fourth inning before Emory rallied for the game-tying run in the top of the seventh and the four go-ahead runs in the top of the eighth frame.

After a pair of leadoff singles from Zander Sotiriou and David Hissey, Steve Bralver broke open a 1-1 ballgame with his second hit of the game, an RBI-single to leftfield. The Eagles went on to rally for three more runs in the inning off a wild pitch, RBI-single and sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Dan Molnar to put the game out of reach.

The Emory bullpen shut the door from there, as senior closer Rich Babb retired John Pacillo on a line drive to the second baseman to secure the Eagles' seventh-straight victory to open the season.

Glushon pitched an outstanding game for Emory in his third start of the season, scattering four hits, three strikeouts and only one run in eight innings of work. The senior from Encino, Calif., improved to 3-0 on the season with Saturday's win and has only allowed six runs in 25 1/3 innings thus far.

Buffa was on the losing end for the first time this year, falling to 2-1 on the season after allowing 10 hits and four runs in seven innings. Drew Maddox, Bobby Osburn and Brandon Ingram pitched the final two innings for the Majors in relief.

Millsaps drops to 5-1 at home and 8-3 overall on the year while Emory improves to 2-0 on the road and 7-0 overall.

The Majors will try and salvage a weekend split on Sunday as the two teams wrap up their weekend series. First pitch at Twenty Field is slated for noon.