Baseball
 

April 18, 2009

Tigers Defeat Top-Ranked Millsaps to Open Doubleheader

Jackson, Mississippi - The Trinity University Tigers upset the Millsaps College Majors – ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division III – in a come-from-behind 8-4 SCAC victory Saturday at Twenty Field.

Trinity improved to 21-18 and 11-8 SCAC, after the top half of a doubleheader. Millsaps stood at 31-6 and 14-5 SCAC.

The Majors scored first in the seven-inning game, with three runs in the fifth. The Tigers mounted a comeback with two runs in the top of the sixth. First-year right fielder Nick Pappas hit a SAC fly to right field and sophomore designated hitter Kyle Felix picked up an RBI. Millsaps added a run in the bottom of the inning and led 4-2.

Then, the offense-minded Tigers exploded for six runs in the top of the seventh. The inning was keyed by Felix, who smacked a three-run home run to left center field, his ninth homer of the campaign. Sophomore center fielder John Paillet, senior left fielder Jordan Pennington and Pappas also had RBIs.

Felix batted 2-4 with four RBIs and scored one run. Pappas went 1-2 with two RBIs and one run. Senior catcher Steven Ramos hit 2-3 and scored a run. Sophomore right-hander Noah Solomon was the starting pitcher and was relieved by sophomore right-hander Mike Panozzo in the fifth inning. Panozzo earned the victory and improved to 6-1. In three innings of work, Panozzo allowed one run, three hits, no walks and had one strikeout.

The Tigers scored eight runs, with eight hits, made one error, and left five players on base. The Majors had four runs, on four hits, committed one error and stranded four players.