March 31, 2007

JACKSON -- Senior transfer Brent Buffa picked up his fifth win on the mound and eight different batters recorded a hit, as the 11th-ranked Millsaps Majors cruised to an 8-2 win in Game 1 of a scheduled doubleheader at Twenty Field on Saturday afternoon.

A five-run second inning was enough run support for Buffa, as the Majors took advantage of a leadoff homerun to deep left center from Hunter Owen (8), an RBI-triple from John Pacillo and a pair RBI-singles from Russ Boyd and Jason Hadley.

The Majors stretched the lead to 7-0 in the third off a pair of solo homeruns from third baseman Hunter Abrams and designated hitter Derrik Boland before the Tigers plated a single run in the fifth and sixth to make the final margin 8-2.

Buffa (5-2, 2.68 ERA) used the best of his sixth start of the season, tossing his third complete game while scattering six hits, three strikeouts and a pair of runs -- one earned.

Blake Holman was credited with the lone RBI for Trinity, as the senior shortstop from Austin, Texas, went 2-for-3 at the plate to redeem himself after giving up a Millsaps run on an error in the second frame.

Michael Hunter (1-2, 4.86 ERA) drew the loss on the mound for the Tigers, surrendering seven runs off six Millsaps hits in 2 2/3 innings of work. The freshman did, however, pick up five strikeouts before his departure, including striking out the side in the first.

With no outs and Trinity holding a 6-0 lead thanks in large part to a 3-run shot from senior outfielder Nick Vera in the top of the first frame, Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader was postponed due to inclement weather in the bottom of the fourth frame.

After a pair of leadoff walks surrendered by Millsaps starter Jay Hollenbeck, Vera sent his third homerun of the weekend (seventh of the season) over the leftfield fence to score Bobby Zabor and Steven Ramos.

Trinity added single runs in the second, third and fourth innings on an RBI-single and a pair of sacrifice flies before the rain set in and forced the field to be covered.

The game will resume at noon tomorrow with Sunday's regularly scheduled single game to follow immediately after.