Memphis - Rhodes College softball upset visiting Berry College in game two Friday evening. After suffering a 7-0 loss to open the three-game series, Rhodes held a 2-1 before Berry tied the game in the top of the seventh. In extra innings with one out and a 2-2 count, senior
Kirsten Samuels lined a home run to left field to snap a 10-game win streak for the Vikings. It's also the first conference loss of the year for Berry.
Bri Maniscalco pitched all eight innings for the Lynx as she earned her 11th win of the season. Rhodes' defense backed up their junior pitcher with several well-timed catches in foul territory as well as fly balls out on the warning track.
Berry scored on a sacrifice fly in the third inning. Makenzie Flynt had a no-hitter going through three innings until senior
Caroline Reilly singled down the left field line to drive in
Peyton Clark who walked to lead the inning. The Lynx took the lead in the fifth after
Anna Kula reached on an error by the shortstop and then stole second base. A groundout by
Jill Healy put Kula on third who scored on a groundout to second by
Karrah Flores. Kylie Aiken made several great defensive plays for the Vikings while playing second base, preventing further damage by the Lynx when she came up with several balls usually hit through the right side.
Berry's hitting allowed them to tie the game in the top of the seventh. A leadoff triple down the left field line followed by a blooper over third base forced the extra innings. A double play helped ease Lynx fans' minds, but a long fly ball to left had Vikings fans on their feet until
Marisa Moore put away home run thoughts by catching the ball at the fence.
The Vikings singled to lead off the eighth inning, but a heads up play by Maniscalco on the second batter helped the Lynx. With the ball driven right back to the circle, Maniscalco fired to Kula at second for the fielder's choice and first out of the inning. Another single put the Vikings in scoring position, but flyouts to left and center ended the top half of the inning. Samuels' home run is her first of the season and her third career.
Rhodes will honor their three seniors before Saturday's game at noon. The ceremony should begin at 11:45 a.m.
