April 15, 2008

JACKSON – Will Hawkins and Hunter Owen blasted back-to-back home runs in the second inning to give Millsaps an early 3-0 lead but Belhaven rallied to score 10 of the final 12 runs in the game to pick up a 10-5 win and a series sweep over the Majors at Smith-Wills Stadium Tuesday night.

Millsaps (24-15) took a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the third inning and was on cruise control behind starter Max Berry who retired the first eight batters he faced in the game until Belhaven put together a two-out, 3-run rally that chased Berry four batters later.

Belhaven (32-15) brought the game to within one, 4-3, and then added five more runs in the fourth to take an 8-4 lead, as Brian McCormick launched a two-run homer over the leftfield wall and Charlie Edwards, Reg Ott and Brent Hudson all followed with RBIs.

From there, Millsaps couldn't find its rhythm on offense and was held to just four hits over the final five innings as three Blazers pitchers combined for eight strikeouts and one run to come away with the 10-5 victory at Smith Wills Stadium.

Eight different Majors picked up a hit in the ballgame despite the loss, with senior Quinn Salmon going 2-for-3 from the plate and Derrik Boland, Hawkins and Owen each hitting a homer. Owen's home run was his 12th of the year and 24th of his career, moving him into fourth all-time on Millsaps' home run list – three shy of Garner Wetzel for third.

Riley Galloway moved to 6-1 on the year for Belhaven after tossing 6.0 innings of 5-hit ball, scattering nine strikeouts and one earned run, while freshman Josh Conlee took the loss for Millsaps after giving up the go-ahead runs in the fourth.

Millsaps concludes the regular season at 24-15 overall and will begin postseason play this weekend with the SCAC Divisional Playoffs, playing Rhodes College in a best of three series at Millington's USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. First pitch for Friday and Saturday is set for 11 a.m. with weather permitting. Sunday's game time is TBA if necessary.