BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - In a thrilling contest, the top-seeded Birmingham-Southern Panthers came-from-behind to defeat No. 2 seed Rhodes by the score of 7-6 in game one of the SAA Championship Series on Saturday afternoon at Striplin Field. The Panthers lead the best of three series 1-0 with possibly two to play tomorrow.

After scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth, Rhodes faced a 3-0 deficit going into the top of the fifth. The Lynx exploded for six runs off SAA Pitcher of the Year Ryan Gaines to move ahead 6-3.

Senior Bill Munson got the inning rolling with a RBI single followed by a two RBI single by freshman Paul Giacomazzi to even the score at three. With the bases loaded, senior Ryan Olive cleared them all with a three RBI double to left center to take a 6-3 lead.

A two run homer in the sixth made it 6-5, but Rhodes took that lead into the eighth inning. BSC scored one in the eighth, thanks entirely to free passes as they allowed no hits in the inning, and continued that trend into the ninth, where again the Lynx gave up no hits, but walks led to a sac fly for the 7-6 win for the Panthers.

Junior Nick Ferngren got the start on the mound, pitching five innings and striking out four despite allowing five runs. Sophomore Ben South pitched 2.2 innings while freshman John Medich took the loss in 0.2 innings pitched. Senior Blake Glauben pitched to the final two batters.

Rhodes had 11 hits to BSC's six as four Lynx had two hits in Munson, Giacomazzi, senior Bennett Notestine, and sophomore Jacob Telli. All four scored a run as Olive had three RBIs. Freshman Jon Michael Lauck and junior Levi Greenberg also added hits on the day.

The Lynx will look to even the series and avoid elimination with a 2 PM matchup in game two. A win will force a game three later that day and will be the decisive game for the SAA Championship.