Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi University for Women narrowly missed out on a doubleheader sweep at Millsaps College, instead settling for a split on the road. The Owls (12-12) won the opener, 6-5, then lost the nightcap when the Majors threw out the potential tying run in a bang-bang play at the plate, to hand MUW a 2-1 loss.
In game one, The W built a 4-0 cushion before MC even mounted any offense. And the hot bat of
Riley Phillips started things off with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first. In the second, an RBI single from
Anna Sandlin (1-3) made it 2-0.
In the Owls' half of the fourth,
Jessica Deming's triple plated
Makalyn Cowley. Then Deming strode home on a grounder by freshman
Kaylee Quimby, 4-0.
Millsaps got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the fifth frame to make it 4-2.
In the top of the sixth, MUW got the insurance it desperately needed courtesy of Phillips. With Quimby on base, Phillips uncorked her team-leading third home run of the season that extended her team's advantage to 6-2.
As it turned out, The W would need every one of those runs. The Majors tallied two in the sixth and one in the seventh and had the tying run at second base, before MUW pitcher
Kaitlyn Parrish induced a weak pop up to second to end the game.
Parrish improved to 4-5 on the year with the complete-game win. She allowed 10 hits and five runs – only three of which were earned – while striking out two.
Phillips finished the game a perfect 3-for-3, scoring twice and driving in three runs.
In game two, a tone was set for a tight ball game early on. A "web gem" defensive effort from Cowley at thirdbase – making a diving catch of a sacrifice bunt attempt and then doubling off the runner at first – kept the Majors at bay. In the third, Millsaps had its leadoff runner in scoring position before The W hurler
Amelia Stalter struck out the next three batters to keep it scoreless.
It wasn't until the bottom of the fifth that Millsaps picked up an unearned run for the first score of the game.
In the top of the sixth, however, Owls' sophomore catcher
Ashton Farnell came up big. Farnell got The W happy with a leadoff home run – her second round-tripper of the year - to knot the game at 1-1.
Rylie Grisham came on in relief of Stalter to begin the sixth. After a walk, Grisham retired the next two batters, before an RBI double gave the hosts a 2-1 lead.
In its final at-bats, The W looked to even matters.
Megan Cummins singled through the right side to open the inning and was then sacrificed to second. An infield pop out left to potential tying run atg second.
That brought up Crowley, who delivered a single to rightfield. Cummins rounded third and took aim at the plate. But so did the Millsaps outfielder, unleashing a perfect throw to home that arrived simultaneously with Cummins, with the umpire calling the Owls' speedy senior out.
The W will next travel to Lane College for a twinbill on April 5.
