April 4, 2007

CLINTON -- An inning after Millsaps' Hunter Abrams worked out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth to send the game to extra frames, sophomore Tim Bruss of Mississippi College delivered an RBI-single up the middle in the bottom of the 10th to score Will Reed from second and send the Choctaws to the thrilling 6-5 win at Frierson Field on Tuesday night.

A regular starter at third base for the Majors, Abrams (0-1, 3.00 ERA) relieved closer Drew Maddox with one out and the bases juiced in the ninth, forcing Matt Newman to strikeout looking and Hugh Brown to pop up to the shortstop to force extra frames.

Choctaw closer Ryan Willis entered in the ninth for Mississippi College, surrendering the game-tying run in the top of the frame on an RBI-groundout before retiring four of the last five batters he faced to even his record to 1-1 on the season in 15 appearances.

Reed led off the Choctaw 10th with a single to centerfield and was sacrificed to second on a well executed bunt by Jody Britt. After Max Parks was intentionally walked to set up the double play ball, Bruss [who entered in the top of the frame to play rightfield for J.T. Sims] delivered a shot up the middle just out of the reach of Justin Carter that scored Reed from second for the win.

The loss drops Millsaps to 3-2 in the Maloney Trophy Series with Mississippi College and Belhaven, setting up an interesting scenario in the final regular season game on April 17 against the Blazers at Twenty Field.

Millsaps falls to 23-9 overall while Mississippi College improves to 12-18.

The Majors will play a stretch of three more non-conference games before traveling to Conway, Ark., April 13-15 to face off with SCAC foe Hendrix College.