March 29, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- In a rescheduled contest from a Feb. 25 rainout in Demorest, Ga., No. 11 Millsaps edged past Piedmont College 4-1 on the campus of Birmingham Southern College (Striplin Field) Wednesday night to sweep the season series, 2-0.

With Wednesday night's win in Birmingham, the Majors reached the 20-win plateau for the seventh consecutive season, sporting a 20-7 overall mark and a 5-3 league record.

In a stretch of six games in six days against SCAC opponent Southwestern and non-confernce opponents Belhaven and Piedmont, Millsaps posted a 4-2 record on the heels of balanced hitting and solid pitching.

Junior right-hander Brandon Ingram (4-1, 3.03 ERA) earned his fourth win of the season against only three starts, scattering four hits and three strikeouts over five innings. Brent Buffa relieved Ingram in the sixth, tossing three innings before Hunter Abrams came to the mound and struck out two batters in the ninth for the save.

Millsaps lit up the scoreboard first, plating two runs in the second frame on a two-RBI double from designated hitter Derrik Boland to score Luke Morrow and Abrams, who both reached safely on a pair of singles to centerfield.

The Majors plated two more in the third off a pair of RBI-doubles from Morrow (pictured) and Joe Blades to open up the game and benefited from a great defensive effort from the infield, as Millsaps turned three double-plays on the evening to prevent any damage.

Sophomore hurler Andy Graf (1-5) picked up the loss for Piedmont, surrendering two runs off four hits in only 1.1 innings of work. Offensively, Cole Spedale (3-for-4) and Justin Vorherr (3-for-4) did the damage at the plate while Andy House picked up the lone RBI.

Millsaps and SCAC-rival Trinity, who were declared 2006 co-champions in the conference, face off in a crucial 4-game series at Twenty Field in Jackson March 30-April 1. The Tigers currently lead the SCAC West standings at 4-0 while the Majors are close behind at 5-3.

All four games of the weekend set will air live on Jackson’s ESPN Radio 1240 AM and online at www.espnradio1240.com with host Derrel Palmer. Pregame starts 15 minutes prior to each game.