MEMPHIS - After last weeks cancelations put opening day on hold, the Rhodes College softball team scored 27 runs to go with 25 hits on Friday afternoon to sweep the Greenville College Panthers 13-12 and 14-10 on Friday afternoon.

In game one, the Panthers wasted little time in the top of the first as a 3-run home run gave Greenville the early 3-0 lead. Rhodes got one back in the bottom of the first as junior Christine Hume scored on a wild pitch. In the second, a pair of freshmen tied it up with solo shots as Kendall Henry and Katelynn Bressler hit their first collegiate home runs.

Greenville continued to use the long ball as they would build a 9-4 lead as Cassandra Lueking hit her second and third home runs of the game, including a grand slam. However, Rhodes began to chip away at the lead as errors and walks made it a 9-6 game. in the fifth, a two RBI double from Hume and a RBI through the left side from freshman Jill Healy put Rhodes ahead 10-9.

The Panthers tied it back up at 10 in the sixth, but RBI singles from sophomore Kristen Samuels and senior Erin Parker put Rhodes ahead 12-10. However, Greenville would not go away, scoring two runs in the seventh for another tie at 12.

In the bottom half of the seventh, sophomore Caroline Reilly started the inning with a walk followed by a sac bunt from senior Rachel Pewitt. Freshman Haley Rath pinched ran for Reilly. After a single by Henry gave the Lynx runners at first and third, sophomore Maggie Mitchell drove in the game winning run with a single as Rhodes won a thriller, 13-12.

Caroline Reilly earned her first win of the season against a tough offense. Parker finished 3-for-4 on the afternoon with a RBI and two runs while Hume went 1-for-4 with three RBI. Samuels scored three runs on the day while Bresler and Long each scored two runs.

In the second game, Rhodes was in total command, jumped out to a 9-0 lead while freshman Bri Maniscalco had a no hitter through four complete in her first collegiate start. Greenville avoided elimination in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs to make it a 9-3 game and eventually making it a 10-7 game in the sixth. 

The Lynx had an answer as Hume and Henry each drove in a pair of runs and held off the Panthers in the seventh for the 14-10 win. 

Hume finished 5-for-5 with three stolen bases, three RBI, and four runs scored while Henry went 2-for-4 with her second career home run and four RBI. Samuels added a 2-for-3 day with two RBI and three runs with Pewitt went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Bresler hit her second career home run with a solo shot in the third. Maniscalco earned her first career win with three strikeouts in the process.

Rhodes start the year 2-0 and will return to the field tomorrow as they take on Oberlin College at 12 PM and finish the series with Greenville at 2 PM.