major concern

Not quite halfway through the conference schedule, the solution to Millsaps College’s poor start is plainly evident though certainly not easily attainable. The Majors need to pitch better. They are 5-18, 2-6 (and last) in the Southern Athletic Association standings. The staff ERA is 7.01, worst among the eight league teams. Millsaps has some competent hitters. Christian Cooper and William Warner are batting over .300, and Brennan Ducote represents a power threat (.281, four homers, 18 RBIs) in the middle of the lineup. But the Majors need their pitchers to keep them in more games. They have been outscored almost 2-1 (202-113), having surrendered 10 or more runs in nine games. Jimmy Fondren (3.48) and Ryan Erwin (2.28) are the only hurlers with a sub-4.00 ERA. That pair combined to beat SAA rival Rhodes 4-3 last weekend. The Majors were blown out in the other two games. Hendrix (19-7, 6-3), which was nationally ranked in NCAA Division III last week, comes to Twenty Field in Jackson for a three-game set (two today, one Sunday) this weekend. Time for a call to arms by Jim Page’s Majors.