COLUMBUS, Miss. – On a day when the Mississippi University for Women's baseball program paid homage to its five seniors –
Blaize Gann,
Dane Bevell, Brett Linton,
Blake Estabrook and brother
Joel Estabrook – in a pre-game ceremony, each played a huge part in the doubleheader sweep of Tougaloo College. In game one, the Owls (12-18) came back from a four-run deficit for an extra-inning, 7-6, walk-off win before crushing the Bulldogs, 13-1, in game two.
The quintet of seniors was a virtual "highlight reel" for The W in the doubleheader. After being received before the contests by MUW President Nora Miller, Head Coach
Scott Mularz, and Assistant Coach
Matthew Milewski – and presented a framed jersey – they went on to take care of business versus Tougaloo.
Bevell – from Grenada, Miss. – got on base in a key moment of the game one comeback, taking a hit-by-pitch to set the table for
Austin Telano's three-run home run in the sixth inning,
drawing MUW to within a single run, 6-5.
Gann – from Houston, Miss. – had the game-winning hit in the bottom of the eighth inning of the first game. With the game knotted at 6-6 and pinch-runner
Xavier Harrison on second base, Gann hit a slow roller to second and beat the throw to first with a head-first dive. Meanwhile, the speedy Harrison rounded third and never broke stride as he barreled home with a full head of steam to score the winning run.
Linton – a catcher from Fayette, Ala. – made a critical defensive play at home to keep the game even at that juncture. In the top of the third inning - after a groundball to first and a runner at third - Linton took a throw from first baseman Telano and tagged out TC's Matt Jones trying to score to keep the score at 2-2.
Blake Estabrook – from Terry, Miss. – drove in three runs and stole three bases in the twinbill. His two-run homer in the first inning of game one leveled the score at 2-2.
Joel Estabrook – a Truckee, California native – went 2-for-4 in game one with a double, a run, and an RBI. He was the winning pitcher in the abbreviated game two, throwing 3.0 scoreless – and hitless – innings, while striking out three Bulldog batters, as well.
The wins helped keep the Owls in contention for a United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) post-season playoff berth. The W is currently ranked No. 10 in the USCAA coaches poll heading into the final week of its regular season on a three-game win streak.
