2007 SCAC Divisional Baseball Tournament

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Playing for its season, Oglethorpe University mounted a furious comeback in the bottom of the eighth, scoring five times to tie the score, but Millsaps College plated what proved to be the game-winning run in the top of the ninth to squeak by the Stormy Petrels 8-7 in the second game of a best-of-three divisional series Saturday night at USA Millington Field.

The win gives 22nd-ranked Millsaps (33-9) a sweep in the series and advances the Majors to next weekend's SCAC Baseball Championships at Southwestern University.

Just as it had done the night before, Millsaps jumped out to a quick lead. The Majors scored four runs in the top of the first inning off Oglethorpe starter Sean Tuttle.

After extending the lead to 5-0 with a run in the top of the third, the Petrels started to chip away at the Majors.

OU (10-32) plated a run in the both the third and the fourth and the score remained 5-2 heading into the top of the seventh.

The Petrels sent Nick Greenfield to the mound in relief of Tuttle to open the seventh and after getting two quick outs, ran into trouble against the heart of the Major's lineup.

Greenfield walked Hunter Owen and then plunked back-to-back hitters - Hunter Abrams and John Pacillo - to load the bases. Luke Morrow then came through with a two-run single to plate what proved to be huge runs for the Majors.

In a late 7-2 hole, Oglethorpe, to its credit, did not fold tent.

The Petrels fought back with five runs in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single from Andrew Llano, an RBI single from pinch-hitter Brandon McMichael, a two-run double from Steven Archer and a run-scoring single from Matt Anderson. In fact, Millsaps was fortunate to escape with the game still tied as Oglethorpe left the bases loaded to end the inning.

After a ground out by Justin Carter, Owen walked for the third time in the game and stole second after Abrams flied to left for the second out of the inning. John Pacillo followed and singled to left field, scoring Owen with the go-ahead run.

OU's Llano opened the bottom of the ninth with a double, but the next three Petrels could not get him home.

A night after committing six errors, Oglethorpe played a nearly flawless defensive game. In particular, Petrel third baseman J. J. Rizzo made spectacular play after spectacular play. But in the end, nine walks combined with timely Millsaps hitting was more than the Petrels could overcome.

Bobby Osburn (2-0) picked up the win in relief for Millsaps. He worked a scoreless 1.1 innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out two.

Majors' starter Brent Buffa was strong for most of the night before running out of gas in the eighth. He worked 7.2 innings, allowing nine hits and seven runs (just one earned) with one walk and three strikeouts.

Morrow finished with three RBIs and Pacillo had two RBI and two runs on two hits. Owen scored three runs.

For the Petrels, Archer drove in three on two hits and Llano had three hits in five trips.