After winning game one by a 1-0 score, Rhodes rallied from 6 runs down in game 2 to complete a sweep of the University of the Ozarks Wednesday afternoon, winning 9-7 in 8 innings.
Sara Bowen picked up her 8th win of the season in game 1, allowing just 4 hits over 7 innings, with the Lynx lone run coming off a 1st inning single from Freshman Courtney Williams. Ozarks scored 6 unearned runs off
Chelsea Peters in the second inning of game 2, but the Lynx rallied to retake the lead in the 6th, then win the game in 8th on an RBI single from
Megan Matthews, who later scored an insurance run courtesey of an Ozarks error.
Bowen was dominant in the circle once again in game 1, scattering 4 hits while striking out 7. Williams single scored
Allison Conn, who had singled, advaned to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a groundout by
Sara Bowen.
In game 2, Ozarks took advantage of 2 Lynx errors to put 6 runs on the board in the bottom of the 2nd. Starting pitcher
Chelsea Peters and the Lynx defense settled down in the 3rd, as Peters retired 6 straight Ozark hitters in the 3rd and 4th innings.
Rhodes began chipping away at the Ozarks lead in the top of the 3rd, when
Megan Matthews led off with a single to left, and advanced to third on a double from
Kelli Zomer. Matthews would score on an RBI groundout by Conn, then Zomer scored on an error by the Ozarks thurd baseman to cut the lead to 6-2.
Rhodes added 2 more runs in the top of the 5th, when Conn and Bowen had back to back 1-out singles. Conn would score on a double from
Olivia Ryan, and Bowen would cross the plate on a single from
Elise Suna to cut the Ozarks lead to 6-4.
Ozarks threatened to blow the game back open in the bottom of the 5th, loading the bases with 2 outs, but Peters induced a groundout to end the threat and keep the Lynx within 2 at 6-4.
The Lynx would do all their damage in the 6th with two outs.
Katie Stich singled with one out, then advanced to second when Matthews hit a grounder to second that resulted in an error. With two outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, Conn singled to cut score Stich and cut the lead to 6-5 and put runners runners at second and third, Bowen singled to score 2 runs and give the Lynx a 7-6 lead.
Ozarks tied the game in the bottom of the 6th, courtesy of a Lynx error and a double steal with runners on the corners, and neither team scored in the 7th, sending the game to the 8th tied at 7 a piece.
Pinch-runner Jessica Becher started on second base for the Lynx due to the international tie breaker rules, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from
Katie Stich. Matthews stepped to the plate and drilled a line drive up the middle that hit the Ozarks pitcher and rolled away and allowed Becher to score and give the Lynx the 1-run lead at 8-7. After a groundout, Matthews would come around to score on an error by Ozarks to give the Lynx a comfortable 2 run lead heading to the bottom of the 8th.
With a runner on second due to the ITB rules, Peters set Ozarks down in order in the 8th, inducing an infield pop up, line out to center, and ended the game with a strikeout. Peters gave up just 6 hits over 8 innings, with 4 strikeouts, and all 6 runs being unearned.
Conn paced the offense with 3 hits, while 6 different Lynx had RBI in a balanced attack. Rhodes is 13-5 and will open up SCAC play on Saturday against 6th-ranked Depauw at Rhodes at 1pm.