Freshman Courtney Williams hit a 2-0 pitch over the left field fence in the top of the 8th inning Saturday afternoon, powering the Lynx to a 8-6, come from behind win over the Panthers of Birmingham Southern.  Rhodes had dropped game 1 to the Panthers 3-1, and scored 5 runs over the final 2 innings to lock up the win in game 2.

In game 1, Birmingham Southern scored twice in the 4th, courtesy of a leadoff walk, a triple, and a Lynx error, taking a 2-0 lead.  Williams got the Lynx to within one at 2-1 when she led off the top of the 6th with her second home run of the season, but the Panthers answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning to extend the lead to 3-1, where it would remain.  Williams paced the Lynx with 2 hits, while Sara Bowen suffered her 3rd loss of the season in the circle, giving up just 4 hits and 2 earned runs, while striking out 7.

The Panthers got on the board first again in game 2, scoring a run in the first on a passed ball, but the Lynx tied the score in the 2nd.  Olivia Ryan led off with a double down the left field line, addvanced to third on a single from Jessica Brown, then scored on a wild pitch. 

Rhodes took a 3-1 lead in the top of the 5th, when Allison Conn and Williams had back to back 1-out singles, then came around to score on a two-run single by Ryan.  Birmingham Southern answered with 3 runs in the home half of the inning, with a little help from a Lynx error and a walk, and held a 4-3 lead heading into the 7th.

With 1 out in the 7th, Conn single to right, then Williams drew a walk to put runners on first and second.  Bowen stepped to the plate and doubled to right center, scoring Conn and tying the score at 4-4.  Later in the inning, with 2 outs and the bases loaded, Katie Stich singled to right, scoring Williams and Bowen and giving the Lynx a 6-4 lead.

Chelsea Peters pitched the first 6 innings for the Lynx, giving up just 3 hits and 4 unearned runs, and the Lynx called on Bowen to come in the 7th and close the door.  The Panthers started the inning with  back to back infield singles, then with one out and runners on first and second, Ashley Bice ripped a triple to right center to tie the score and put the game-winning run on third. 

After walking the cleanup hitter, Bowen induced a coupld of flyouts to force extra innings.  Kelli Zomer singled with 1 out, and a sharp line drive by Conn nearly resulted in an inning-ending double play, but Zomer scampered back safely.  With 2 outs, Williams stepped to the plate and blasted the 2-0 pitch over the fence to left, giving the Lynx an 8-6 lead. 

A leadoff walk looked to make the 8th interesting,but Bowen retired the next 3 Panthers to seal the win.  Williams paced the Lynx at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a walk, 3 runs scored and 2 RBI.  Ryan collected a pair of hits, scored a run and added 2 RBI, while Stich added 2 RBI of her own.  Bowen earned her 10th win of the season, pitching 2 innings of relief, giving up 3 hits and 2 runs.

Rhodes is 15-9 and 2-4 in the SCAC, and returns to action Sunday afternoon with another doubleheader against Birmingham Southern.