March 30, 2008

JACKSON – Freshman left-hander Brantley Freeman tossed 7.0 innings of two-hit ball and scattered nine strikeouts and senior teammate Jamie Herrmann launched a two-run shot to right-center in the sixth inning as Southwestern knocked off 23rd-ranked Millsaps 3-2 in Sunday's weekend finale at Twenty Field to take the series 3-1.

In a well-pitched ballgame from Freeman for SU and Tait Hendrix for Millsaps, Southwestern (14-16, 4-4 SCAC) broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning, using back-to-back doubles to right-center from Landon Durham and Richard Falcone as Falcone’s double scored Durham for the go-ahead run.

Millsaps (17-11, 3-5) drew even in its half of the fifth, taking advantage of a leadoff walk issued to Billy Murphy who advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored two batters later off a Russ Boyd sac fly to center.

SU retook the lead an inning later off Herrmann’s two-run bomb to right-center, backing up a leadoff single from Eric Gonzales to go up 3-1 after six.

With hits and runs hard to come by on the afternoon, the Majors got a huge lift from junior Hunter Owen in the eighth inning to draw a run closer at 3-2. With two outs in the inning and Kyle Foreman in to pitch for SU, Owen delivered his team and conference-leading 10th home run of the year over the left centerfield wall.

Brandon Ingram, who started the eighth on the mound for Millsaps in relief of Hendrix, tossed the final two innings of shutout ball and scattered three strikeouts to give the Majors a chance to win it late.

Millsaps threatened to tie the game in the deciding ninth inning, using a leadoff single to left from freshman Josh Ordeneaux who extended his hitting streak to 18 games. Ordeneaux advanced to second two batters later on an infield groundout to move into scoring position but was caught stealing third to end the game.

Southwestern’s 3-2 win on Sunday wrapped up the series for the Pirates and brought its league record to 4-4 on the year, while Millsaps slipped into fourth in the West at 3-5. The loss for the Majors was also their first SCAC series loss at home since 2005.

The Majors continue a 12-game homestand on Tuesday with non-conference foe Mississippi College in the Maloney Trophy Series with first pitch set for 6 p.m. on Jackson’s ESPN Radio 1240 AM and online at www.espnradio1240.com.