MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Mach 23, 2022) - The Rhodes Lynx overcame an early deficit with clutch relief pitching and a potent offense en route to an 8-6 win over visiting D-II Christian Brothers on Wednesday. The win moves Rhodes to 12-10-1 on the year while CBU falls to 8-16.

The first run scored in a wild way. Jarrett Fowlkes led the game off with a double to center. The next hitter launched a ball to deep center, where Ben Wilson made a phenomenal over the shoulder catch. The ball was hit so hard though that Fowlkes was able to tag up and score from second to make it 1-0.  The second inning was ugly for Rhodes on the mound. The first three hitters of the inning were hit by pitches, and then a walk brought in a run. A second run then scored on a wild pitch. A third run would come across on a sac fly, making it 4-0. 

The Lynx responded with a pair in the bottom of the second. Will Heurtin walked to lead off, and was brought in on a triple from Wilson. Three batters later, Gunnar Vachris sent a fly ball to left to score Wilson and make it 4-2. 

Christian Brothers added two more in the third, with runs scoring on an RBI groundout and a wild pitch.

Nothing happened in the third and fourth innings. In the bottom of the fifth, the Lynx began their comeback. With one out, the Lynx loaded the bases with a single and two walks. Daniel Hicks then took the first pitch he saw into right filed to score Wood Kimbrough. The next batter, Quinn Blackman, punched a sharp grounder through the left side to score Wilson and Heurtin, making it a 6-5 game. 

In the top of the sixth, Thomas Lemaster entered the game as a relief pitcher. He was outstanding in his two innings of work, tossing two scoreless with four strikeouts. 

Wilson was once again the catalyst in the seventh. He singled on a bunt to third to leadoff, and promptly stole second. Hicks followed him in the batting order, and ripped a ball through the left side to score Wilson and tie the game. 

Rhodes took the lead for good in the eighth. Mitchell O'Berry led off with a double off the left field wall. Dante Messina then came through in the clutch in his first at bat of the day, shooting a ball to right field that plated O'Berry, giving Rhodes their first lead of the game. Moments later, Wilson drove a ball to center, allowing Heurtin to score standing up, making the final score of 8-6. In the ninth, John Fears struck out two, including the final batter of the game with two men on to secure the win. 

The Lynx posted 15 its in the game, led by Wilson's three. He also walked twice to reach base five times in the game. O'Berry also had three hits in the game. Heurtin and Wilson each scored three times. The last three pitchers of the game for Rhodes ... John Gibbs, Thomas Lemaster, and John Fears ... combined to throw 5.2 innings of one-hit baseball, allowing zero runs while striking out ten. 

Next up for Rhodes is a three-game set with SAA opponent Centre College in Memphis. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 12:00 pm.