MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 2, 2022) - The Rhodes Lynx continued their win streak on Saturday, claiming a pair of games in walkoff fashion against the Sewanee Tigers. Thye took game one 4-3 thanks to a Dante Messina single, and game two 5-4 on a John McNair home run. The Lynx, winners of eight straight, now stand at 17-10-1 on the year, with a 8-3 mark in the SAA.

Game One
Rhodes 4
Sewanee 3

Logan Martin and Nick Ferazzi were matched up in a prolific pitcher's duel in the first game of the doubleheader. Working quickly, each pitcher made it through three innings without allowing a run. In the top of the fourth, Sewanee finally got to Ferazzi. With one out, Wade Sansone singled though the left side, and was immediately brought in on a massive Wesley House two-run shot to left. Rhodes loaded the bases in the fourth with a chance to respond, but Martin struck out the final batter to keep it 2-0. 

The same scenario happened in the sixth, with the Lynx loading them up again with two outs. A sharply hit groundball off the bat of Ben Burkhart was snagged on a nice play byt the Tigers' third baseman to end the threat. Then in the seventh, Sewanee added an insurance run on a wild pitch to make the score 3-0. 

Rhodes would make their mark in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Peter York was hit by a pitch, followed by a walk to Will Heurtin. After a strikeout, Wood Kimbrough ripped a laser of a base hit to right, over the fielder's head for a double that scored York and Heurtin. The next batter, Dante Messina, lofted a ball high into the sky in right. What looked like a can of corn turned into disaster for Sewanee as their right-fielder tripped, allowing the ball to drop and the Lynx to score the tying run. 

Ferazzi started the eighth, but was pulled after giving up a double. John Fears was fantastic in relief, striking out two and leaving the runner stranded. After two scoreless half innings, the table was set for a dramatic finish. Martin was replaced by a reliever after striking out twelve, but running his pitch count above 130. The first pitch from Holden Shell plunked Heurtin, putting the tying run on board. John McNair followed with a single to put runners on the corners with no one out. An intentional walk to imbrough loaded the bases for Messina, who laced the first pitch he saw into left field for walkoff RBI single. 

Messina was 4-5 in game one with two RBI. Ferazzi tallied 7,1 innings, eight hits, three runs and eight strikeouts in the no decision. John Fears earned his team-best sixth win of the year in relief. 

Game Two
Rhodes 5
Sewanee 4

The Tiger's approach to facing Rhodes ace C.J. Carron was to swing early. The first four hitters of the game saw a total of five pitches. But the strategy worked as a costly error from the Lynx allowed the inning to run long. By the end of it, Sewanee had scored two unearned runs for an early lead. 

Fast forward to the bottom of the third where the Lynx were still down. Ben Burkhart walked to lead off, and promptly stole second base. A sac bun moved him to third, and a groundout from Peter York scored him. Back-to-back two-out hits put men on the corners, but Rhodes could not convert again in the inning. 

Sewanee responded instantly with a leadoff double and an RBI single in the top of the fourth. Then it was Rhodes' turn again to comeback. Heurtin led off with a walk, and moved all the way to third on a bunt single from Ben Wilson. Daniel Hicks drove in Heurtin with a grounder through the right side to make it 3-2. Burkhart then tied the game in the next at bat with a sac fly to left.

The Tigers started the sixth with a walk and a single, chasing Carron from the game. A walk from reliever Noah Roland moments later would bring in the go-ahead run. With the bases still loaded, Roland buckled down and struck out the last two hitters of the inning to escape further damage. 

The Oscars may have been last week, but the Lynx wanted more drama. A scoreless sixth from Rhodes, followed by two more Ks and a donut from Roland set the stage once more for an exciting finish. With one out, Dante Messina laced a double to the right-center gap. On the very next pitch, John McNair absolutely nuked a moonshot over the right field fence for the 5-4 win. It was McNair's second walkoff dinger in the past seven days. 

McNair and Messina were the only two Lynx with multiple hits in this one. Carron recorded eight strikeouts in the no-decision. 

Game three of the series will take place on campus at Stauffer Field at noon on Sunday.