Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score
Rhodes used an explosive offense, solid pitching and defense to take a pair of games from Mississippi College on Wednesday, winning by scores of 12-4 and 4-2. Sara Bowen earned the win in game 1, improving to 9-1 on the season. Bowen and Kelli Zomer each had 3 hits and 3 RBI, while Armanda Venezia contributed a three-run double to pace the Lynx offense. In game 2, Chelsea Peters improved to 6-1 on the season, going 4 2/3 innings, and Bowen came in for the final 2 1/3 to earn her second save of the year. With 2 outs in the 4th, Jennifer Whatley, Ashlyn Chandler, and Karli Alvino collected back to back to back RBI hits to break a 1-1 tie and propel the Lynx to victory. Rhodes has now won 18 of 20 games, and improves to 23-5 on the season.
Mississippi College came into the game with a 10-9 record, but had some impressive victories on their resume, including wins over #1 ranked UT-Tyler, #2 Louisiana College, #15 Depauw and #20 Emory. Entering the game, 6 of the Choctaws 9 losses had come to ranked teams and 2 to Division I Alcorn State.
"We knew their 10-9 record was deceiving," said Coach Hicks. "They've played one of the toughest schedules in the country and have a number of quality wins."
After surrendering an unearned run in the top of the 1st, the Lynx answered with 2 runs in the bottom half of the inning on a double to left center by Bowen, scoring Elise Suna and Allison Conn. The Lynx bats then came alive in the 2nd, scoring 10 runs on 7 hits, highlighted by a 3-run inside the park home run from Zomer, her 6th homer of the season.
Trailing 12-1, the Choctaws showed they would not go down without a fight, answering with 3 runs in the top of the 3rd off a 3-run home run by cleanup hitter Morgan Harpole, but that is all they would get, as Bowen settled down to retire 5 of the last 8 Choctaws she faced, securing the 12-4 win in 5 innings. Zomer went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI and a home run, while Bowen was 3 for 3 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI. Armanda Venezia added a 3-run double to help lead the Lynx.
In game 2, each team scored a run in the first, with the Choctaws using 2 singles, a couple of stolen bases, and a passed ball to score an unearned run off Peters. Zomer led the Lynx half of the first off with a bunt single, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Allison Conn. With 2 outs, Rebekah Moore doubled to score Zomer and knot the game at 1.
The game remained tied at 1 until the 4th, as both Peters and Mississippi College starter Kim Mason kept the hitters off balance. With 1 out in the bottom of the 4th, Bowen doubled, and advanced to third on a groundout by Venezia. Jennifer Whatley delivered an RBI single, and came around to score on a triple by Ashlyn Chandler to give the Lynx a 3-1 lead. Karli Alvino then singled to left, scoring Chandler and giving the Lynx a 4-1 lead after 4 innings of play.
With one out in the Choctaw 5th, Kasey Bomar singled down the left field line, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double on a perfect throw from Zomer. After back to back singles, the Lynx brought Bowen out of the bullpen in relief of Peters. Bowen walked Harpole to load the bases, then a passed ball cut the Rhodes lead to 4-2 before Bowen coaxed Lauren Coleman info a flyout to right.
Bowen walked another Choctaw in the 6th, but escaped without giving up a run, then retired the side in order in the 7th to earn her second save of the season. Peters pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up 2 unearned runs on 6 hits while striking out 4 to earn her 6th win of the season. Bowen held the Choctaws hitless for the final 2 1/3 innings in picking up the save.
With the win, Rhodes tied the school record for wins with 23, and currently stands at 23-5, and 8-0 in the SCAC East. SCAC rival Millsaps comes to town this weekend for a crucial 4-game series. Game time Saturday is 1pm and Sunday at 12pm.
