April 20, 2007

MILLINGTON, Tenn. -- Millsaps pounded out 12 runs off 13 hits and junior left-hander Travis Bogue became the third starting pitcher this season to notch seven wins, helping lead Millsaps to a series opening win over Oglethorpe University, 12-1, in only seven innings due to the 10-run rule.

The Majors wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning off OU starter John Hale, thanks in part to three Petrels errors and an RBI-double from Hunter Abrams.

In an unusual circumstance, Millsaps plated its first run of the game on a play that featured three errors.

After Jason Hadley reached base safely on a double to left center, Justin Carter reached base by way of an error by the Petrels' third baseman J.J. Rizzo. The error allowed Hadley to take third base and then score on the same play to make the game 1-0 on an error by the leftfielder Chris Lucas.

Lucas recorded two errors relaying the ball back in from leftfield, allowing Carter to eventually rest safely at third base.

From there, Hunter Owen tripled to centerfield to score Carter from third and Abrams sent a double down the leftfield line to score Owen to make the margin 3-0 after one inning.

Millsaps would go on to plate two more runs in the third, three in the fourth, two in the fifth and two in the sixth to make the final score 12-1.

Eight different Majors recorded a hit in the contest while Hadley, Carter, Abrams and Owen notched multi-hit games.

One 'Major milestone' was tied and one was surpassed in Friday night's game. With Owen's double to right center in the fifth, the junior outfielder from Jackson tied Kirk Kinard for the Millsaps single-season record in doubles with 19 while Hadley's three hits on the evening gave him the most hits in a Millsaps career at 230.

Bogue (7-1, 4.40 ERA) tossed a gem of a game on the mound in his 11th start of the season, scattering a season-high eight strikeouts against only two walks while surrendering only four hits and one earned run for the complete game win.

Millsaps (32-9) leads the best of three series over Oglethorpe (10-31), 1-0, with Saturday's Game 2 slated to begin at 8 p.m. at Millington USA Stadium. A Majors win will close out the series while a loss will force a deciding Game 3 on Sunday.