Jackson, Miss. - Rhodes College baseball had a tough opening day for the 2019 season. The Lynx traveled to Jackson, Miss. Saturday and opened against Belhaven University before facing Maryville College that same night. 

Trey Sledge started the game and struck out four batters before he was forced off the mound, forcing the Lynx to turn to their bullpen in the third inning. Belhaven's 3-0 advantage was soon erased in the fifth inning when Jacob Telli tripled in two runs and scored on a Ryan Palermo single. The Blazers scored two more runs in the bottom half of the inning but Telli tallied his final RBI of the game on a single to left field. Down by one, Will Heurtin and Nick Bosma completed the double steal, with Heurtin crossing home to tie the game. Jake Stacy then singled in Bosma to give Rhodes a one-run lead. Belhaven ensured extra innings on two hits, ultimately taking the game in the 11th inning after a Lynx error prolonged the inning. 

The Lynx pitching staff tallied 12 strikeouts against the Blazers. Paul Giacomazzi went three-of-five at the plate with a walk while Telli recorded three RBI. 

After using four pitchers in the first game and suffering a 7-6 loss in 11 innings, Rhodes turned to Maryville College that evening where they fell 4-2. Playing as the home team, Rhodes got on the scoreboard early on a sac fly from Heurtin which scored Paul Giacomazzi. The Scots took a 3-1 advantage when Chris Penna doubled for the Lynx to score Telli who led off the bottom half of the sixth after being hit by a pitch. Maryville scored their final run on a passed ball in the ninth. Rhodes again went through pitchers, sending five to the mound. The Lynx were limited to three hits in the game but earned first on five walks. 

Rhodes will conclude the weekend against LeTourneau on Sunday at noon in Jackson.