Rhodes scored 6 runs in the 5th inning to overcome a 2-1 deficit and cruise to a 10-2 win in game 1, then used a 7-run 3rd inning in game 2 en route to an 11-5 win to complete a doubleheader sweep of SCAC rival Centre this afternoon.  Senior Sara Bowen earned the win in game 1, giving up just 2 hits and no earned runs, while Senior Cindy Bitters gave the Lynx 3 2/3 strong innings in game 2 to lead the Lynx. 

Fielding miscues resulted in runs for both teams early in game 1, with Rhodes scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the 1st when Senior Allison Conn reached on an error and was forced at second on a ground ball by Courtney Williams.  Williams would come around to score on a double from Bowen, giving the Lynx an early 1-0 lead.  Centre answered by taking advantage of a Lynx error in the top of the second.  Following a dropped fly ball with 2 outs, Chelsea Benham rocked a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence to give the Colonels a 2-1 lead. 

The lead held up until the bottom of the 5th, as starter Emily Meador kept the Lynx hitters off balance.  Elise Suna drew a walk to start the 5th, and pinch runner Amber Hunt advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Katie Stich.  With 2 outs, Megan Matthews doubled to right center to tie the game, then Kelli Zomer hammered a 2-1 pitch over the scoreboard in centerfield to give the Lynx a 4-2 lead. 

The Lynx weren't finished in the inning, as Conn delivered a 2-out single, and scored on a Centre error in the outfield on a ball hit by Williams.  Williams would score on Bowen's second double of the game to give the Lynx a 6-2 lead, then Bowen crossed the plate on a wild pitch to cap off the Lynx 6-run inning and make the score 7-2.

Rhodes' first five hitters reached base in the 6th, as Stich led off with a walk and advanced to second on a single by Freshman Jessica Becher.  Matthews followed with a single to right to load the bases for Zomer, who came through with an RBI single, followed by a 2-run single by Conn to give the Lynx the 10-2, mercy rule win in 6 innings. 

Bowen improved to 11-4 on the season, allowing no earned runs, 2 hits, and striking out 3.   Zomer led the way offensively with 3 hits, including a home run and 3 RBI, while Conn, Bowen, and Matthews each had 2 hits to pace the Lynx attack.

Centre Freshman Ashley Christian gave the Colonels an early 3-0 lead in game 2 with a towering 3-run home run in the second inning.  Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the 3rd, Rhodes again used a big inning to pull away from the Colonels.  Matthews led off the inning with the first home run of her college career to cut the lead to 3-1, and with one out Conn, Williams and Bowen had 3 consecutive singles to load the bases with 1 out.

After Senior Olivia Ryan drew a walk to cut the lead to 3-2, the Colonels recorded another out, leaving the Lynx with the bases loaded and 2 outs, trailing by 1 run.  Stich lined a single to left to score Williams and tie the score, and freshman Amber Hunt stepped to the plate and delivered a 2-run single to give the Lynx a 5-3 lead. 

With runners at 1st and 2nd, Matthews singled to right to load the bases, bringing Zomer to the plate.  Zomer delivered a 2-run single to cap off the 7-run inning and give the Lynx a 7-3 lead after 3 innings. 

The Colonels showed they weren't going down without a fight, answering immediately with 2 runs off Bitters in the top of the 4th, and had runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs for Senior Taylor Childress.  The Lynx called on Peters out of the bullpen, who induced a groundout to end the threat and preserve the Lynx 7-5 lead. 

Rhodes added a run in the 4th on an RBI single from Elise Suna, and another run in the 5th when Hunt led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Matthews and scored on a single from Zomer to make the score 9-5.  Rhodes added 2 more in the 6th when freshman Jessica Brown reached on an error to lead off the inning, then fellow freshman Desiree Buie doubled to left to put runners on second and third with no outs. 

Brown scored on a sacrifice fly from Hunt, and then with 2 outs pinch runner Jessica Becher scored on a single from Conn to give the Lynx an 11-5 lead. 

Peters earned the win in relief of Bitters, tossing 3 1/3 innings, giving up 4 hits and holding the Colonels scoreless.  Conn led the Lynx offensive attack with 3 hits, while Zomer and Hunt each had 3 RBI.

Rhodes improves to 17-11 overall and 4-6 in the SCAC, while Centre falls to 8-12 and 1-5 in the SCAC.  The two teams will square off in another doubleheader Sunday afternoon at 12pm.