MOUNT BERRY, Ga. (April 29, 2022) - The Rhodes Lynx looked like the team to beat in the SAA tournament on Friday following their two blowout wins against #2 Berry and #7 Centre. Rhodes now stands at 25-17-1 on the season 

Game One
Rhodes 18
Berry 10

It didn't take long for Rhodes to get on the bar in game one on Friday. A five-run first inning would prove to be enough of a lead for the game. John McNair carded the first RBI of the day with a triple to right field that scored Peter York. A sac fly two batters later brought in McNar to make it 2-0. The Lynx were not finished as three batters later, following a walk and a hit by pitch, Gunnar Vachris laced a double to the gap, scoring three runs and making the score 5-1 though one. After doubling another Rhodes run in the second, The Colonels scored four runs of their own in the bottom half, cuttig the lead to 6-5. McNair then continued his barrage with a two-run homer to score himself and Dante Messina to make it 8-5. 

In the top of the sixth, McNair ripped a single through the right side to make history and complete the cycle. Rhdoes would end up with three runs in the inning, thank to two more RBI from Vachris and one from Ben Wilson. A bases loaded double brought the Vikings within four, but it would not be enough as the Rhodes hitters kept on rolling.  Four runs were scored in the seventh with RBI from Kimbrough, Wilson, and two from Bryce Anderson. Messina and Malcolm Rohlfing would add RBI in the eighth and ninth, respectively to get Rhodes to their final total of 18-10. 

McNair ended up with five hits on the day, with four RBI. He was one of five Lynx to record multiple hits. Vachris finished the game with a career-high six RBI.

Game Two
Rhodes 10
Centre 5

 Peter York, the only Lynx starter who did not record a hit in the first game, led off the Rhodes offensive attack with a double. He was subsequently brought in on a Messina RBI knock. Ben Wilson dropped down a beautiful bunt the batters later to score Messina and make it 2-0. Ben Burkhart would homer to  lead off the third, making it t3-0. WIlson added an RBI double to the ledger in the third, giving the Lynx a 4-0 lead.

.After a quiet fourth, Centre hit a solo home run to get on the board. They would pull within one at 4-3 in the top of the seventh, thanks to a bunt and a sac fly . The Lynx responded instantly, thanks to another big fly from Burkhart, this time with the bases loaded for a grand slam. Two more runs came across in the eighth on RBI singles from McNair and Will Heurtin.  John Fears tossed a scoreless ninth to secure the win and move Rhodes into the net round of the playoffs. 

Burkhart reached base four times and drove in five. Messina had another multi-hit game, going 3-5 with three runs scored. Jaxon Cady was a beast on the mound, tossing 7.1 innings while allowing only four hits with seven strkeouts. 

Rhodes will face #6 seed Millsaps on Saturday, trying to avenge a loss to the Majors early this season. Should Rhodes win the first game (starting at 1:00 pm EST), they will have to play again at 3:30 to earn a berthto the SAA championship. .