TYLER, Texas - Whitworth fought back from an early deficit and scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning before a game-ending double play with the bases loaded cut the rally just short in a 7-6 loss to Millsaps College at the NCAA West Regional on Thursday.

Whitworth (28-14) will look to avoid elimination against University of La Verne (25-18) on Thursday afternoon at approximately 4:30 p.m. La Verne defeated host University of Texas-Tyler, 2-0, in the opening game of the tournament. Millsaps (29-12) will face Trinity (Tx.) in the final game scheduled to be played on Thursday.

Trailing 7-3 entering the ninth inning, Whitworth used five hits during the final frame in the comeback effort. A one-out double by Joshua Davis began the rally and Matthew Nelson followed with a single. JT Phelan scored Davis with a base hit before Jeremy Druffel loaded the bases with a single and chased Millsaps starter Smokey Ethridge.

Joel Condreay welcomed reliever Daniel Ross to the game with a two-RBI double, placing runners on second and third. Thomas Wakem was intentionally walked but Nick Motsinger hit into a 4-3 double play on a soft line drive to end the game.

Millsaps had jumped to an early lead as five of the first six batters reached safely in the top of the first inning. A walk and hit by pitch began the game before Isaac Glenn connected with an RBI double, scoring a run and placing two runners in scoring position. After a flyout, Annon Etheridge delivered a two-RBI single before the Pirates escaped the inning with a double play.

The Majors extended their lead to 4-0 in the second inning after a pair of walks led to a first-and-third situation with two outs. The Millsaps runner on first base attempted to steal and was caught in a rundown, but the runner on third base scored during the play before the final out could be recorded.

The Pirates came within 4-3 after scoring one run apiece in the second, third and fourth innings.

Whitworth erased the shutout in the bottom of the second when Garrett Hughes scored Wakem with a two-out single to center field. Wakem had reached on an infield single with two outs before advancing to third base following a pair of wild pitches.

Nelson delivered an RBI triple to left-center field in the third inning, scoring Davis who had led off the frame with a walk. But Millsaps escaped the inning without further damage following a strikeout and two groundouts.

Wakem singled to begin the bottom of the fourth inning before Motsinger followed with a walk. Hughes then scored Wakem with a double down the left-field line. The Pirates loaded the bases with no outs but Millsaps escaped the inning, thanks in part to an unconventional 9-3 double play on a shallow flyout to right field.

The Majors added two runs in the sixth inning when Andy Page delivered a two-out, two-RBI single. A pair of walks with one out followed by a sacrifice bunt had set the stage for Page.

Millsaps scored one more run in the eighth inning after loading the bases with no outs. Logan Patterson connected for an RBI single before a 6-4-3 double play prevented further damage.

The Pirates totaled 14 hits compared with nine for the Majors, but left 11 runners on base compared with six for Millsaps.

Dan Scheibe (9-3) took the loss, allowing six earned runs over 5 ⅔ innings pitched. He struck out four and walked five. T.J. Orchard pitched 3 ⅓ innings of relief, allowing one earned run with one strikeout and one walk.

Ethridge (6-4) earned the win after allowing six earned runs in 8 ⅓ innings pitched with three strikeouts and four walks.  

Wakem finished 3 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored. Nelson was 2 for 5 with a run scored and one RBI while Condreay went 2 for 5 with two RBIs. Garrett Hughes was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.