Millsaps out lasts Panthers for 10-7 win
Feb. 29, 2008

Millsaps College jumped out to a large lead and held on for a 10-7 win over LaGrange College on Friday at Cleaveland Field. The loss dropped the Panthers to 4-4 on the season, while the Majors improved to 8-5.

Millsaps jumped on starter and loser Cody Belt (1-1) for seven runs in the third inning. The Majors banged out seven hits in the inning, all singles. Seth Harris relieved Belt with two outs and walked the two batters he faced to force in the final run of the inning.

Justin Phelps relieved Harris and got the final out of the inning. Phelps held the Majors in check over the next four innings. In 4-2/3 innings of work, he allowed two runs, one earned.

The Panthers got on the board in the fifth inning. Jesse Brown reached on an error to lead off the inning. Infield hits by Trey Walker and Jimmy Statler loaded the bases.  Brown scored on a passed ball and Walker scored on Blake Allen's ground out to make it 7-2.

Trailing 8-2, the Panthers scored five runs in the seventh to get back in the game. Trey Walker walked to lead off the inning and Andrew Fleming relieved starter Travis Bogue (2-2). Statler walked and Allen's base hit loaded the bases. Walker scored on a balk and Statler came home on a wild pitch to make it 8-4. Drew Maddox relieved Fleming and was greeted by an RBI single by Patrick Langley. An error by the Majors brought in another run. Langley scored the final run of the inning as Robbie Shelton reached on a fielder's choice.

Millsaps came back with insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings to go up 10-7. Maddox closed out the game with two scoreless innings after the seventh to record his second save of the season.

The Majors finished the game with 14 hits, all singles. The Panthers had 12 hits, led by Langley's three hits. Allen and Korey Ison each had two hits. Brown had the game's only extra base hit, a double in the second inning.

The two teams continue their three-game series Saturday at Cleaveland Field beginning at 2 p.m.