Memphis - Rhodes College softball has started their 2021 campaign with a four-game sweep over the Covenant College Scots.

Game 1

Without a fall season, Rhodes softball returned to the diamond for their first intercollegiate competition since a March 2020 spring break trip. So it was only fitting, Madison Keller, the pitcher to throw a gem of a game before the abrupt end to the 2020 season began the 2021 season right where she left off.

In a true pitchers' duel, the game was a scoreless tie until the bottom of the fifth when Rhodes' freshman Katelyn Siekerka roped a double to open the inning. Sophomore, Hannah Grace Roden, then advanced Siekerka to third base with a ground ball to put the go-ahead run a mere 60 feet away. Rhodes' next batter popped out in the infield, senior standout Lauren King walked, and with the game at a tipping point, head coach Luke Wagner elected to go to his bench and pinch hit Ms. Clutch, senior, Marisa Moore. Moore, like she has done so many times before for the Lynx, stepped to the plate and singled in the first run of the game.

With Rhodes leading 1-0, Keller went back to work, tossing a scoreless sixth and putting Rhodes just three outs from their first win of the season.

In the top of the seventh, despite retiring the first batter of the inning, the next two Scots singled and Keller was relieved in the circle by freshman, Madison Stringfield. Although Stringfield was able to get a ground ball out from the first batter she faced, the batted ball was enough to advance the runners another 60 feet. With a runner now on third base, the Scots were able to single to shortstop, scoring the tying run before ending the frame.

Now down to their last at bats, it was once again Rhodes' Siekerka who stepped to the plate and reached first base safely on an infield error. An unsuccessful pick-off play form the catcher to first base allowed Siekerka to advance to second.  Hannah Grace Roden executed a perfect sacrifice bunt safely advancing Siekerka yet again. With a runner on third base and one out, junior Abby Pons hit a slow roller to the shortstop, scoring Siekerka and securing the game one win.

Game 2

Fresh off their season-opening victory, it was senior Lauren King that took the circle for the Lynx.  King wasted no time setting the tone for the game, recording a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Rhodes offense, still emotionally charged from their game one walk-off win, provided King all the run support she would need in the bottom of the first inning.  The Lynx scored three runs in their first at-bats and never looked back. Offensively, King tallied three hits and three runs while Kiekerka continued to shine in her Rhodes' debut, going 2-for-4 with five runs batted in. Additionally, junior Taylor Clark drove in two runs while sophomore Lauren Little brought home one as the Lynx cruised to a 10-0 win in five innings. King was dominate in the circle, pitching four innings of scoreless softball, allowing just two hits. Freshman Andie Priest made her collegiate debut in the top of the fifth, striking out two of four batters faced, completing the game two shutout win.

Game 3

Game three of the series saw Rhodes' Madison Stringfield make her first collegiate start against an energized Scots lineup.

A combination of timely hitting, and Rhodes' defensive miscues, allowed Covenant to jump out to a four run lead to open the game. That four run lead would remain until the bottom of the fourth inning when Leslie Matherne scorched a triple that brought home  Hannah Grace Roden all the way from first base, closing the gap to 4-1.

Fast forward to the bottom of the seventh inning with the score still 4-1, it was again Matherne who provided an offensive spark, this time with a double, putting a runner in scoring position with only one retired in the inning. Junior, Nikki Greuel was called upon to pinch hit and advanced Matherne to third base with a ground out to short stop. With the Lynx down to their final out, senior Lauren King ripped a single plating Rhodes' second run. Next up, day one star, Katelyn Siekerka hammered her first collegiate triple, scoring King and trimming the Scots' lead to a single run. With the tying run on third, it was again senior Marisa Moore that stepped to the plate and smacked a double to center field that knotted the game at four apiece.

In the top of the eighth, for Covenant, they began with a runner on second base in accordance with softball's international tie breaker rule; for Rhodes', Stringfield was lifted for Lauren King who was tasked with keeping the Scots from scoring.  Covenant, elected to attempt small ball to advance the free runner from second to third base.  Covenant's leadoff ;looked to get the job down with a bunt that appeared to be in "no man's land" only to find her attempt thwarted by a sensational diving catch in front of home plate by senior catcher, Samantha Feinstein. With one out, Covenant again attempted to bunt the runner from second to third base, but again, Feinstein was equal to the task catching another bunt, this time for the second out of the inning. With the next Scot hitter popping the ball up in the infield it was now Lynx offense's turn to get to work.

The Lynx began the inning with Samantha Feinstein on second base and Abby Pons up to bat.  The leadoff hitter, was able to single to left field, moving Feinstein 60 feet closer to home.  Rhodes' Hannha Grace Roden then softly hit ground ball to the right side that was enough to score Feinstein for Rhodes' second walk-off of the weekend.

Game 4

In the final game of the series, Rhodes' freshman Andie Priest made her first collegiate start in the circle. Priest was strong in her first start, keeping the Scots' hitters off balance while Rhodes' offense provided her with run support.

All told, Priest pitched just over five innings before exiting the contest with Rhodes leading, 4-3.  Game one pitcher, Madison Keller, who  called upon to spell Priest, which she did to near perfection.  When the dust settled, Keller picked up her first save of the season and Rhodes prevailed, 6-3.

Offensively, King and Siekerka led the way. King had two hits and two runs batting in, while Siekerka had three hits and two runs batted in.

The series sweep moves Rhodes to 4-0 on the season. Next weekend they welcome the University of Ozarks for a four game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 13.