MEMPHIS - The Rhodes College softball team earned a split against the Millsaps Majors on Friday afternoon at the Rhodes Softball Complex. The Lynx took the first game, 5-4, before falling in game two, 6-5.

In the first game, Rhodes used small ball to spike a four run first inning, jumping all over the Majors early. After a leadoff single and stolen base from senior Erin Parker, junior Christine Hume put down a perfect bunt for a single and a bad throw brought Parker around from second for the 1-0 lead.

Senior Rachel Pewitt singled home a run to make it 2-0 while sophomore Kirsten Samuels put down another beautiful sacrifice bunt that the Majors misplayed to score another run. Sophomore Allison Long drew a walk to make the score 4-0.

As the Majors settled down both in the circle as well as defensively, the Lynx turned to Long, who put together a terrific effort in the circle.

Long kept the Majors off balance early in the game and got out of a huge jam in the fourth inning. After Millsaps scored two runs to cut the deficit in half, the Majors had runners at second and third with only one away. Long proceeded to get a huge strikeout followed by a pop up in foul territory to get out of the inning and keep Rhode son top.

Freshman Katelynn Bresler reached on a double in the sixth inning and would move to third on a bunt. Junior Caroline Sutton put the ball in play as Bresler beat the throw home to make it a 5-2 game.

Millsaps got two back in the seventh off the long ball, but Long held strong to earn her sixth win of the season. She pitched the complete game, allowing four runs off eight hits while striking out four.

Bresler led the way offensively, going 3-for-3 with a run scored while Pewitt added a 2-for-2 day with a RBI. Parker also had a two hit game with a run scored while Hume, Henry, and Pewitt all scored a run.

In the second game, Millsaps took the early 1-0 lead, but Rhodes responded in the bottom half of the inning with a RBI double from Henry and two run homer from Pewitt.

However, the Majors scored one in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth, and one in the fifth to take a 6-3 advantage. Rhodes got one back on a solo shot from Bresler while Henry drove in a run in the sixth. The Lynx got the tying run on base in the seventh, but it was not enough as Millsaps prevailed to tie the series.

Freshman Bri Maniscalco took the loss, pitching only two innings and allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits. Sophomore Caroline Reilly did a good job in relief, going five complete with two run allowed off four hits. She finished with four strikeouts.

Henry finished 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, and two RBIs while freshman Karrah Flores went 2-for-4 on the day. Hume was 1-for-3 with a pair of runs while Pewitt went 1-for-2 with the two run bomb. Bresler added a hit to go with a RBI and a run scored.

Rhodes is 18-9 on the season and 4-6 in Southern Athletic Association play. The Lynx and Majors will play the rubber match tomorrow afternoon as 12 PM.