by Megan Murray
sports editor
The Millsaps Majors softball and baseball teams opened their 2015 seasons this past weekend. While the Valentine’s weekend was about love for most people, it was all about serious competition for the Majors.
Baseball hosted a round robin weekend playing the University of the Ozarks Eagles on Friday and the Schreiner University Mountaineers on Saturday. Majors’ softball hosted their first double header of the season against Wesleyan College on Saturday.
The Majors baseball team hit its stride early and never looked back. The team finished the weekend with two wins, including an 8-0 shutout victory over the Eagles and a 16–3 offensive blast over the Mountaineers. The scoring did not cease for the Majors as they tallied 21 hits, seven doubles, two triples, and a home run in their first two games of the season.
Junior center fielder Isaac Glenn was four for nine on the weekend, picking up two doubles and six runs batted in. “[The wins] felt great.” Glenn said. “After a disappointing season last year, I feel like we definitely needed to get started on the right foot this year. I feel like we did that this past weekend with two good wins.”
Photo courtesy of Millsaps Sports Information
Down the hill, Majors softball swept the Wesleyan Wolves 10-2 and 2-0 on Saturday to pick up their first two wins of the season. While the first game ended in a five-inning run rule for the Majors, the second game was a nail biter. With a 0-0 score entering the sixth inning, the Majors were in desperate need of some offense. Freshman Sarah Scales hit a crucial single with the bases loaded to bring in the Majors’ two runs of the game. Needing only three outs in the top of the seventh inning to ensure the win, fellow freshman Lexi Barron made a double play to end the game.
Sophomore pitcher Danielle Faucheux kept the Wolves offense at bay pitching two complete games on the day with a total of 11 strikeouts and only six hits allowed. She said, “It felt good, honestly. I haven’t pitched two full games in a day since high school, and it definitely gave me a challenge. Both games I had situations to work through, but the team was behind me keeping me up the whole time. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.”Photo courtesy of Millsaps Sports Information
Faucheux also commented on her expectations for the team for the remainder of the season. “I expect that we will continue to grow.” she said. “The hits will come. It was just the first two games. I believe we will continue to grow stronger with each weekend.”
The Majors baseball and softball teams will both play road games this weekend. Baseball will travel to Millington, Tennessee, to face off against Emory, Webster and Washington in the Rhodes College Classic. Softball will make the trek to Texas with a double header against the University of Dallas on Saturday; the women will then stop in Louisiana on Sunday for a two-game contest against Centenary College.