Sara Bowen and Olivia Ryan homered in a 3-run 3rd inning, and the Lynx strung together 5 consecutive hits in the 4th to score 4 more runs on their way to a 9-2 win in game 1 against #21 Piedmont this afternoon.  Bowen picked up the win in the circle, giving up 3 hits and no earned runs, improving to 3-0 on the season.  Game 2 was a back and forth affair that saw the Lions jump out to a 4-0 lead in the 1st inning, only to have the Lynx battle back to take a 5-4 lead on a 2-run single from Allison Conn in the 4th.  Piedmont answered with a 3-run 5th and another run in the 6th, but the Lynx kept battling back.  Ryan hit her second home run of the day in the 6th and freshman Jessica Brown had a pinch hit single in the 7th to cut the lead to 1 and put runners at the corners in the 7th with 2 outs.  Katie Stich hit the ball sharply, but right at the Lion short stop, who made the play to end the game. Rhodes is 4-2 on the season and returns to action Tuesday at 2pm vs. MacMurray.

In game 1, Kelli Zomer got the Lynx offense rolling with a leadoff double down the right field line, then came around to score on a double to deep right field from Allison Conn.  Ryan singled to center to score Conn, giving the Lynx a 2-0 lead after 1 inning. 

The Lions picked up an unearned run in the top of the 3rd to cut the lead to 2-1, but the Lynx bats answered quickly.  Bowen led off the bottom half of the inning with her first home run of the year, and following a single from Courtney Williams, Ryan belted a towering home run to left center to give the Lynx a 5-1 lead. 

After another unearned run from the Lions in the 4th cut the lead to 5-2, Rhodes answered with 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th.  Jessica Becher singled to lead off the inning, followed by singles by Zomer and Conn to load the bases with no outs.  Bowen and Williams delivered back to back RBI singles, followed by a sacrifice fly by Ryan, then with 2 outs, Katie Stich singled to give the Rhodes a 9-2 lead, which is where the score would remain.

Bowen improved to 3-0 on the season, giving up just 3 hits and no earned runs, while striking out 5.  Zomer, Bowen, and Williams each had 3 hits for the Lynx, while Ryan knocked in 4 runs to pace the offense.

The Lynx got off to a slow start in game 2, spotting the Lions 4 runs in the top of the first.  WIth the score 0-0 and 2 outs, the Lions had a runner on third, but back to back walks loaded the bases.  An RBI single gave the Lions a 1-0 lead, then an errant throw to third allowed a second run to cross the plate.  The Lions would add 2 more runs in the inning, courtesy of a bases-loaded walk and a passed ball, taking a 4-0 lead after a half inning of play.

Rhodes quickly made it known they wouldn't go down without a fight, as Zomer led off with a single, then scored when Conn belted the first pitch over the left-centerfield fence to cut the lead to 4-2 just 4 pitches into the game.  Rhodes added another run in the second when Amber Hunt led off the inning with a bunt single, advanced to second on a fielders choice, then scored on a single from Conn, cutting the Lion lead to 4-3 after 2 innings.

Trailing 4-3 heading into the bottom of the 4th, the Lynx put 2 on the board to take a 5-4 lead.  Stich led off wih a single, followed by a single from Becher.  WIth 2 outs, Conn again came through with a single through the right side, scoring Stich and Becher to give the Lynx the 5-4 lead after 4 innings.

The Lions answered with 3 runs in the top of the 5th, taking advantage of 2 walks and an error, again scoring all of their runs with 2 outs, to take a 7-5 lead.  Ryan hit her second dinger of the day in the bottom of the inning to bring the Lynx back to within a run at 7-6 after 5 innings.

The Lions reclaimed that run in the 6th, and took an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the 7th.  Conn led off with an infield single, but was forced at second on a grounder by Bowen.  With 2 outs, Ryan drew a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd, and following a wild pitch, the Lynx had the tying run in scoring position for pinch hitter Jessica Brown.  Brown hit a soft liner up the middle that the Lion shortstop was able to keep in the infield, allowing just one run to score and preserve the lead.  Stich stepped to the plate and hit the ball sharply, but the Lion shortstop made a clean play and ended the game.

Conn led the Lynx offense with a perfect 4 for 4, including a home run and drove in the Lynx first 5 runs of the game.  Ryan was also a perfect 2 for 2 with 2 walks and a home run.  Cindy Bitters took the loss in the circle, going 5 1/3 innings, striking out 4 while giving up just 5 hits but issued 8 walks.  Chelsea Peters pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, giving up 3 hits.