Game 1:
Coming off a great week of practice, the Lynx took to the field with a renewed sense of confidence and focus.
For Rhodes, it was
Madison Keller that got the nod in the circle and the task of shutting down Berry's high powered offense. For Keller, it was another chance to showcase her talents as one of the best pitchers in the Southern Athletic Association – and she didn't disappoint.
Keller spun six scoreless innings while Rhodes' offense kept waiting for their chance to break through. That opportunity finally came in the top of the seventh inning.
It was senior
Lauren King that led off the seventh roping a single to left field. Next up,
Nikki Greuel executed a gorgeous sac bunt that advanced King. With only one out and a runner on second base,
Hannah Grace Roden flared a single into center field that caused confusion between defenders. Recognizing the ball wasn't going to be caught, King broke to advance. Understanding the importance of King's run, the Viking's centerfielder quickly fielded and fired the ball to third base, but that throw never reached its mark.
When King slid into the base, the ball from the outfield ricocheted off of her and towards the dugout, scoring King and advancing Roden to second base. Roden would advance to third on a fielder's choice before senior
Peyton Clark stepped to the plate with two outs in the inning and a huge insurance run standing a mere 60 feet away.
Clark, who had put pressure on the Berry defense all day with sensational infield slaps, stuck with her game plan and executed another picture-perfect slap that saw its way through the infield and scored Roden. When the dust settled on the top of the inning, Rhodes held a two-run lead headed into the final half inning.
In the bottom of the inning, it was more of the same from Keller, shutting down the Berry offense for the complete game win. Keller allowed just three hits, struck out five Vikings and tallied the shutout.
Game 2:
Game 2 saw Berry plate two runs in the first inning before Rhodes responded with a run of their own in the fourth on a Greuel steal of third base and obstruction call which awarded her an advance home.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Vikings responded plating six runs of their own and increasing their lead to 8-1.
Rhodes scored their second run in the top of the seventh but stranded two more in the inning, eventually falling 8-2 in the night cap.
Tomorrow, Rhodes returns to the field to complete the series. First pitch is tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. ET.
