March 28, 2008

Box Score

The SU baseball team opened its four game Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference series with the 23rd-ranked Millsaps College Majors on Friday (Mar. 28) by handing MC its worst home loss since 2000, winning 14-2.

The Pirates jumped to a quick four-run lead in the top of the first with a pair of RBI ground balls from Blake Williams (Lufkin, TX/Lufkin HS) and Jamie Herrmann (Houston, TX/Westside HS) along with a two-run double off the bat of Michael Murphy (Houston, TX/Austin HS). Southwestern went down in order in both of the next two innings.

SU then blew the game wide open in the top of the fourth as the Bucs plated seven runs on four hits and one Major error. Leading 11-0, SU allowed a single run in the fourth but answered in the fifth. The Pirates made good use of three hits, two walks and a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 14-1. A solo home run in the sixth brought it to 14-2 and the game ended after seven innings due to a run-rule.

Junior starter Wes Willis (Austin, TX/Austin HS) improved his season record to 6-1 with the complete game victory. He struck out 10 over seven innings while issuing just one walk. Willis allowed two earned runs on six hits.

At the plate, leadoff hitter Todd Boone (Huntsville, TX/Huntsville HS) had a 3-5 day at the plate, scoring twice and driving in one. Herrmann also had three hits in five at bats with three runs batted in and one scored. Murphy led the team in RBI's with four while going 2-5 in the game. Murphy and Herrmann had the team's only extra-base hits as both recorded doubles.

The win pushes the Pirates' record to 12-15 and 2-3 in the SCAC while Millsaps falls to 16-9, 2-3.

The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday (Mar. 29) at 1:00 pm.