The Rhodes softball team picked up its first two victories of the season today, sweeping a doubleheader from Lagrange College by scores of 4-1 and 6-2. Sara Bowen picked up the win in game 1 and was also 2 for 4 with 2 RBI to lead the Lynx. In Game 2, Chelsea Peters held the Lagrange bats at bay, giving up just 2 hits and a pair of unearned runs. Allison Conn went 4 for 5 with 2 runs scored to lead the Lynx offensive attack. Rhodes is now 2-2 on the season and will return to action on Saturday against Emory and Washington University in the Chick-Fil-A Classic.
Bowen and Lagrange pitcher Shanna Brumbelow dueled in game 1, keeping the game scoreless through 5 complete innings and allowed just 6 hits combined. Freshman Megan Matthews led off the Rhodes 6th with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Allison Conn. After Matthews advanced to third on a wild pitch, Bowen delivered an RBI single to give the Lynx a 1-0 lead.
Lagrange answered in the bottom half of the inning, with a leadoff single followed by an RBI double to put the go ahead run at second with no outs. Lagrange cleanup hitter Megan Wing laced a line drive deep into the right centerfield gap, but senior Jennifer Whatley made sensational shoestring catch for the out and in the process, caught Lagrange's Katie Hein off base and completed the double play.
With the score tied in the top of the 7th, Whatley, Kelli Zomer and Matthews drew consecutive 1-out walks to load the bases for Conn. Conn laced line drive to right,but this time it was Hein's turn to make the catch, snagging the ball from the gap and nearly doubling Zomer up at second. With 2 outs, senior Rebekah Moore delivered a 2-run single to left to give the Lynx a 3-1 lead. Bowen then singled for her second RBI of the day, giving the Lynx a 4-1 lead heading to the final frame.
After allowing a leadoff double, Bowen retired the next 3 Lagrange hitters to seal the win for the Lynx. Bowen allowed just 5 hits and struck out 6 for her first win of the season, in addition to helping her own cause with a 2-4, 2 RBI performance at the plate.
In game 2, the Lynx were able to jump out in front in the first frame, on a leadoff single from Zomer followed by a sacrifice bunt from Matthews. After single from Conn and a fielder's choice from Moore, Bowen delivered another RBI single to put the Lynx on top 1-0. Senior Armanda Venezia later ripped a 2-out single to right center to score pinch-runner Carly Evans and give the Lynx a 2-0 lead.
Sophomore Chelsea Peters allowed just 1 hit over the first 3 innings, but 2 Lynx errors allowed Lagrange to push 2 runs across and tie the game at 2 in the 4th. However, the Rhodes bats answered the challenge, putting up 4 runs on 6 hits in the top of the 5th. Conn and Moore led off wih back to back singles, and advanced to second and third on a groundout by Bowen. Elise Suna then ripped a 2-run double to the wall in left center and came in to score on a single from Venezia. Venezia would come around to score on a single from Matthews to give the Lynx a 6-2 lead.
From there it was all Peters, as she held the Panthers hitless over the final three frames, retiring 9 of the last 10 hitters she faced. On the day, Peters allowed just 2 hits and struck out 6, battling out of several jams that were created by 4 Lynx errors. Conn was 4 for 5 in the game, leading a Lynx offense that pounded out 17 hits. Whatley and Bowen each had 3 hits, while Venezia and Suna each produced a pair of RBI.
Rhodes is now 2-2 on the season, and will play at home this weekend in the Chick-Fil-A Classic. Game times, live stats, and live video can be found online.
