ATLANTA, GA. – The Oglethorpe University baseball team split a Friday doubleheader against Millsaps College at Hermance Stadium, using timely hitting and solid pitching to take game one before falling in the nightcap. The Stormy Petrels capitalized on key opportunities early in the opener to secure a 6-4 victory, highlighted by a go-ahead home run and a strong outing on the mound, but were unable to contain Millsaps' offensive momentum in game two, dropping an 11-6 decision.
With the split, Oglethorpe showcased its ability to respond offensively while continuing to search for consistency across both games of a doubleheader.
Game One: Oglethorpe 6, Millsaps 4
Oglethorpe responded to an early deficit with a strong middle-inning surge to secure a 6-4 victory in the opener. Millsaps struck first with runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead, but the Petrels answered in the bottom of the third. Trey Kinnan delivered a two-RBI single to right field, scoring Cade Eidam and Nick Morgan to even the game.
The momentum swung fully in Oglethorpe's favor in the fourth inning. Ryan Causey led off with a single before Brick Conway launched a two-run home run down the left field line to give the Petrels their first lead of the game. Later in the inning, Nick Morgan added a sacrifice fly to extend the advantage to 5-2. After Millsaps cut the deficit to one with a two-RBI double in the sixth, Oglethorpe added an insurance run in the eighth. Ethan Snipes singled to right center to score Will Weaver and push the lead to 6-4.
On the mound, Tate Henderson earned the win, tossing 6.0 innings while allowing four runs (three earned). Tyler Hower closed the door with 2.2 scoreless innings to record his third save of the season. Offensively, Cade Eidam led the way with three hits, while Kinnan drove in two runs. Conway's two-run homer proved to be the difference in the game.
Game Two: Millsaps 11, Oglethorpe 6
Millsaps used multiple big innings to pull away for an 11-6 win and salvage the split. The Majors opened the scoring in the first inning, but Oglethorpe answered immediately as Smallwood drove in Kinnan with an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. Millsaps regained control with runs in the second and a two-run home run in the third to build a 4-1 lead.
Oglethorpe chipped away in the fourth on an RBI groundout by Nick Morgan, but Millsaps responded with four runs across the fifth and sixth innings, including a three-run home run in the sixth that extended the lead to 9-3.
The Petrels showed life in the bottom of the sixth. Smallwood added a sacrifice fly before Causey launched a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 9-6. Millsaps answered again in the seventh with a two-RBI single to stretch the lead to 11-6, and the Petrels were unable to mount another comeback.
Smallwood paced Oglethorpe offensively with three hits and two RBIs, while Kinnan added two hits and scored twice. Conway also recorded a multihit performance, and Causey drove in two runs with his home run.
Game Notes
- Oglethorpe recorded 10 hits in game one and 11 hits in game two.
- Eidam led all hitters in game one with three hits.
- Smallwood collected three hits and two RBIs in game two.
- Conway hit a two-run home run in game one, while Ryan Causey homered in game two.
- Hower earned his third save of the season with 2.2 scoreless innings in the opener.
- Kinnan combined for three hits, two RBIs, and three runs scored across the doubleheader.
Up Next
The Petrels and Majors wrap up the three-game series with the rubber game on Saturday, April 4, at 12 p.m.
