March 12, 2007

CLINTON -- For the second time in as many games against Mississippi College this season, the 13th-ranked Millsaps Majors showed why no lead was big enough, rallying for 12 runs in the final two innings to pull off the 14-7 come-from-behind win.

Down by a score of 6-5 heading into the ninth inning of Monday night's game at Frierson Field in Clinton, Millsaps had only trailed three times all season after eight innings and had yet to get a win (0-3).

Things changed quickly for the Majors, using seven MC walks, two hits and two hit batters to cross the plate nine times in the frame -- an inning where they had only scored three runs through 15 previous games.

Mississippi College (8-11, 0-3 American Southwest) looked poised to knock off Millsaps after seven full innings of play, carrying a 6-2 lead off a pair of homeruns by Max Parks in the first and fifth frame and solid pitching from Choctaw starter Ryan Willis.

That's where things turned sour for MC, surrendering three runs in the eighth and nine in the ninth off relievers Nathan Stevens, Jeremy Phillips, Brannon Walls and Gabe Gattis.

Senior Brent Buffa (3-1, 2.93 ERA) becomes the third Major this season with three wins (Travis Bogue, Jay Hollenbeck), tossing 5 2/3 innings in relief of Bogue while scattering nine hits, three strikeouts and two earned runs for the win.

Senior outfielder John Pacillo (pictured) led the Majors offensively, going 3-for-6 with five RBIs, three doubles and one run scored to extend his hitting-streak to 14 games.

Fellow senior Nick Crawford did not record an official at-bat in the win, however, the Greenville native reached base safely five times with four hit-by-pitches (15) and a walk. Crawford has now reached safely in 17-straight plate appearances and is three shy of the NCAA-record of 20 {Eric Boeche, Concordia (Ill.), April 18-24, 2000}.

Millsaps (13-3, 0-0 SCAC) is averaging a conference-best 12.7 runs per game as they improve to 10-0 when scoring 10 or more runs.

The Majors will open SCAC play and a five-game homestand this weekend, playing host to Austin College in a four-game series March 16-18 and welcoming Illinois Wesleyan to town on Tuesday, March 20.

Catch Saturday's Game 2 against Austin and Sunday's game against Austin on ESPN Radio 1240 AM or online at www.espnradio1240.com with Derrel Palmer.

Reminder: The coaches' show on Monday will air live on Wednesday, March 14 at 8 p.m.