April 21, 2007

JACKSON -- Sophomore Britney Webb recorded her 11th home run of the year on the first pitch of the game and increased her NAIA-leading total of stolen bases to 42, to help lead the visiting Belhaven Blazers to an 8-1 single-game win at Millsaps Field on Saturday.

The two teams exchanged home runs in the first frame to keep the game tied at 1-1 after one, when Webb sent a ball over the centerfield wall and Jennifer McKinley launched her fourth long ball of the season off Blazers starter Mandie Henderson.

Belhaven, however, would go on to score seven unaswered runs off 10 hits over the final six innings to pull away 8-1 and finish the regular season at 30-16, marking the second consecutive season for the Blazers to reach the 30-win plateau.

Henderson allowed just one run off four hits through the first 2 2/3 innings of play before freshman Erin McGowan moved over from the designated player spot to pitch 3 1/3 innings of two-hit ball for her team-leading 15th win of the season. Karin Perry tossed the final frame for the Blazers, retiring the Majors lineup in order.

Millsaps managed just six hits on the afternoon against three fielding errors, with McKinley notching her 15th multi-hit game on a 2-for-2 afternoon and teammates Tiffany Ladnier, Sam Hill, Josie Manley and Jessica Clincy recording the remaining four hits.

Erica Douglas was hit with the loss in the circle for Millsaps, surrendering five runs off eight hits in five innings of work. Freshman Brittney McAllister pitched the final two innings in relief of Douglas, scattering three strikeouts, two hits and one earned run.

With the regular season complete, Millsaps will face Rhodes in the opening-round of the SCAC Tournament in San Antonio, Texas, on Friday, April 27 at 12 p.m.

If the Majors take care of business against Rhodes, they will play the West's No. 1 seed in Trinity University at 4 p.m. Friday. A loss, and the Majors will play at noon on Saturday.