March 19, 2007

JACKSON -- In the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference season-opener for both teams, the homestanding Millsaps Majors and the visitors from Austin College split a 4-game series over the weekend to share a two-way tie for second place at 2-2.

Game 1 Recap: Millsaps 6, Austin 3
Millsaps benefited from a solid pitching performance from junior left-hander Travis Bogue (4-1, 4.60 ERA) on Friday, surrendering six hits and three runs while striking out three in six innings of work.

Brandon Ingram (2-1, 3.86 ERA) and Drew Maddox (1-0, 6.48 ERA) pitched the final three innings in relief, as Maddox picked up his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.

Sophomore Scooter Means did the dirty work for Austin, driving in all three Kangaroo runs on a 2-for-4 day at the plate while senior Justin Carter went 1-for-3 with three RBIs to lead the Majors offensively.

Game 2 Recap: Austin 5, Millsaps 0 (7)
In Game 1 of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader, junior Justin Frost (3-1) was impervious on the mound for the 'Roos, as the Gilmer, Texas, native tossed a complete game shutout while scattering three hits in a 7-inning contest.

Austin plated two runs in the third, one in the fifth and two more in the sixth to pick up its first win in SCAC play on the season. Sophomore catcher Patrick Ray went 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs to lead the 'Roos.

Derrik Boland, John Pacillo and Carter each picked up a hit for the Majors in the loss.

Game 3 Recap: Austin 6, Millsaps 4
For the first time this season, the Majors fell victim to back-to-back losses, as Austin plated two quick runs in the first inning to hold off the Majors 6-4 in a 9-inning contest.

The 'Roos edged the Majors 11-10 in the hit column, dropping Millsaps to 1-5 in games where they are out-hit by their opponent. They are 14-0 in games where the tables are turned.

Clint Rushing (5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 1 K) and Clay King (4 IP, 3 H, 1 R) split time on the mound for Austin, as Rushing improved to 3-2 on the year and King earned his first save of the year.

Pacillo did the damage for Millsaps, going 3-for-5 at the plate with a pair of runs scored.

Freshman Bobby Osburn also had a nice outing for the Majors on the mound in relief of starter Tait Hendrix, tossing five strong innings while scattering four hits, four strikeouts and one earned run.

Game 4 Recap: Millsaps 7, Austin 1
Junior right-hander Jay Hollenbeck (4-0, 2.57 ERA) tossed his first complete game of the season and Pacillo extended his hitting-streak to 18 games, as the Majors salvaged a weekend split with a 7-1 win over Austin on Sunday.

Hollenbeck surrendered the lone 'Roos run on an unsuccessful pickoff attempt in the first inning, before settling down to allow only three hits over the final eight innings and strikeout a season-high eight batters.

Pacillo led the Majors with a pair of RBIs, while 1B Luke Morrow, RF Joe Blades and Carter picked up two hits apiece in the win.