The Rhodes Softball team used a couple of late-inning rallies to notch a pair of wins Saturday, defeating Millikin University and Berry College each by a score of 5-4.  In game 1 verses Millikin, Kelli Zomer capped off a 3-run 7th with a walk-off single to lift the Lynx to victory, and in game 2 Megan Matthews played the role of hero, capping a 3-run 6th inning to give the Lynx a come from behind 5-4 win over Berry College. 

In game 1 against Millikin, Rhodes trailed 4-0 heading into the 4th.  After back to back 1-out singles by Elise Suna and Armanda Venezia and a 2-out walk by Olivia Ryan, Zomer delivered an RBI single to put the Lynx on the board and cut the Big Blue lead to 4-1.  Rhodes cut further into the lead in the bottom of the 6th, when Ryan delivered a 2-out single and came around to score on a single from Matthews, bringing the Lynx to within 2 runs at 4-2.

Rebekah Moore quickly brought the Lynx to within a run, leading off the bottom of the 7th with a towering home run to right center.  Consecutive 1-out singles from Suna, Venezia, and Jennifer Whatley would load the bases with 1 out for Ryan, who drew her second walk of the game, tying the score at 4 and setting the stage for Zomer.  With the count 1 ball and 2 strikes, Zomer lined a single into right center, scoring Venezia and giving the Lynx a thrilling 5-4 win.

Zomer paced a Lynx offensive attack that pounded out 14 hits, going a perfect 5 for 5 with a double and 2 RBI, including the game-winner.  Suna was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored, while Ryan was 2 for 2 with 2 walks, a run scored and an RBI.

Cindy Bitters started in the circle for the Lynx.  In her first action since off-season elbow surgery, the junior gave the Lynx 2-plus solid innings, giving up just 2 earned runs, before being pulled because of a predetermined pitch count.  Sara Bowen came in relief with the bases loaded and no outs in the 3rd, striking out the first 3 hitters she faced to  get out of the jam.  Bowen cruised through the remainder of the game, retiring 15 of the 16 hitters she faced and holding the Big Blue hitless over the final 5 frames to pick up her second win of the season.

In the day's second game against Berry, the Lynx jumped out to a 2-0 lead after 3 innings, scoring twice in the 3rd on consecutive singles by Zomer, Matthews, and Allison Conn, and aided by a Berry error.  Berry would quickly answer with 3 in the 4th, tagging Rhodes starter Chelsea Peters with 4 hits in the inning, to take the lead at 3-2.  Berry would add to the lead in the top of the 6th, with 2 more hits and a Rhodes error, and led the Lynx 4-2 heading into the bottom of the 6th.

If the situation looked familiar to Lynx fans, it could because for the second straight game with the Lynx trailing 4-2, Moore led off the inning with a solo home run to bring the Lynx within a rn at 4-3.  Suna, Venezia and Ryan would deliver consecutive singles to load the bases with 2 outs, and Zomer at the plate.  Zomer worked the count full before drawing a walk, scoring Suna and tying the game and setting the stage for Matthews.  Matthews came up big with a sharp grounder through the hole into left field, scoring Venezia and giving the Lynx a 5-4 lead.  Ryan was thrown out at home trying to score on the play to end the inning.

Bowen came in relief of Lynx starter Chelsea Peters in the 7th, striking out the side to earn her first save of the season and seal the Lynx second come from behind win of the day.  Peters pitched 6 solid innings, giving up just 7 hits and 3 earned runs to notch her 4th win of the season.

Zomer once again led the Lynx offense, going 2 for 3 with an RBI, while Matthews added 2 hits of her own, including the game winner in the bottom of the 6th.

In earning a win and a save on the day, Bowen pitched 6 innings of hitless softball, notching 11 strikeouts and walking just 1 batter.  Zomer ended the day 7 for 8 with a walk, a run scored, a double and 3 RBI, while Moore belted a a pair of clutch home runs to ignite Lynx rallies.

Rhodes and Berry will square off again at 9:00am Sunday, kicking off day 2 of the Rhodes Spring Classic, followed by Rhodes and Lagrange at 11:00am.