April 1, 2007

CONWAY, Ark. -- The homestanding Hendrix College Warriors plated six runs in the third inning of Game 1 to cruise to a 7-3 win before earning a series split with a 4-3 win in an 11-inning marathon in the weekend closer.

Eight different batters contributed to seven runs and 12 Warriors hits in the afternoon opener, taking advantage of a 6-run third and two Millsaps errors to set up the rubber match.

Senior Kaylea Cecka picked up her sixth win of the season in the circle for Hendrix, scattering five hits and two unearned runs in four innings of work. Fellow senior Kim Tallent pitched the final three innings in relief, earning her second save without allowing a hit.

Sophomore Tiffany Ladnier picked up two of the Majors' five hits on a pair of singles while Renee Hebert, Jennifer McKinley and Erica Douglas were credited with the three RBIs.

In the all important rubber match, Millsaps was looking for its second consecutive series victory while Hendrix was searching for a series split and a Sunday doubleheader sweep.

Millsaps (10-18, 5-3 SCAC) lit up the scoreboard first when senior Josie Manley scored on an error by the Hendrix College first baseman in the top of the second inning.

Hendrix (11-21, 4-4 SCAC) knotted the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning and the two teams stayed tied at 2-2 into the 10th inning, when the international tiebreaker rule came into effect and called for a runner to be placed on second base to start the frame.

Neither team scored in the inning and the game went into the 11th where Millsaps plated the go ahead run before the home team responded with two of its own to take the win, 4-3.

Tallent was the tying run for the Warriors in the 11th, scoring on an error by Hebert, before Tori Huggins drove in the game-winning run on an RBI-single to center two batters later that scored McKinzie Fruchtl from third.

Tallent (5-9) also picked up the win in the circle for Hendrix, scattering six hits and tossing a complete game while striking out five batters. Kasey Thibodeaux (3-7) was credited with the loss, relieving freshman starter Brittney McAllister in the fifth and surrendering three runs over the final six innings.

Millsaps and Trinity, the top two teams in the SCAC West standings, will face off in a crucial 4-game series on the campus of Millsaps April 14 and 15, playing a pair of doubleheaders for the outright conference lead.