The Rhodes College Baseball team returned home for the first time in nearly a month to play a 3-game SAA conference series against the Berry College Vikings. With the pitching staff holding a dangerous Viking offense in check Saturday, the Lynx were able to win both games and secure the series victory on day 1. The Lynx were set up for success entering game 3 of the series where they ultimately completed the sweep.
Game 1:
Game 1 was all about Zac Sohosky and the incredible start he put together. The ace dealt 7.1 innings of shutout baseball, striking out 5 and picking up his 5th victory of the season. Offensively, Brandon Trichell scored the first run of the game as he blasted his 5th home run of the season, a solo shot. Cooper Kuriger doubled in the same inning, driving in both Corbin Kinder and Ben Daniel. Quinn Blackman would later hit a homer of his own, another solo blast that extended the Lynx lead to 4. Corbin Kinder also recorded an RBI single in the bottom of the 7th. Mick Arney came on in relief of Sohosky in the bottom of the 8th. Arney went on to pitch 1.2 innings, not allowing any runs and successfully closing the door for the Lynx. Rhodes won game 1 by a final score of 5-0.
Game 2:
Game 2 was another low scoring affair that saw great pitching from both teams. Reid Manti got the start for Rhodes as the freshman delivered 5.0 innings holding the Vikings to just 2 runs and striking out 6. Quinn Blackman picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly to put the Lynx on the board. Then, in the bottom of the 4th, Cooper Kuriger hit a home run to left field to bring the Lynx even with the Vikings 2-2. Kuriger would remain hot as he came to the plate in the bottom of the 6th and delivered his second RBI of the game, this time in the form of a single that drove in Ben Daniel. This would prove to be enough to push the Lynx past the Vikings and secure a game 2 victory. Mick Arney closed the door once again in game 2. He dealt 2.0 more innings of shutout baseball and recorded his 3rd save of the year. The Lynx got the best of the Vikings once again by a final score of 3-2.
Game 3:
After claiming the first 2 games of the series in the double header, the Rhodes College Baseball team returned to Stauffer Field with their eyes set on a sweep. The rainy conditions did not prevent either team from scoring runs in this one as the two teams combined for 21 total runs. Malcolm Rohlfing shined at the plate as he reached base safely in all 5 of his at bats, including 2 home runs and 2 RBI's. Rohlfing was the catalyst for the Rhodes offense from the lead off spot. Ben Daniel stroked a 2 RBI double in the bottom of the 5th inning, scoring Brandon Trichell and Cooper Kuriger and giving the Lynx a 6-5 lead. After Berry tied the game, Malcolm Rohlfing hit his second homer of the game, a 2-run shot that reclaimed the Rhodes lead. Ben Burkhart blasted his 7th home run of the season in the bottom of the 6th, extending the lead to 9-6. Brandon Trichell, Cooper Kuriger, Malcolm Rohlfing, Corbin Kinder, Ben Daniel, and Ben Burkhart all recorded RBI's for the Lynx. The offensive explosion would be enough for the Lynx to claim a 12-9 victory over the Vikings. Rhodes only had to use 5 pitchers in total the entire weekend, including 3 separate appearances from Mick Arney. In those 3 appearances, Arney dealt 7.2 innings and only allowed 2 earned runs. Andrew Carron recorded the save in game 3 as well.
The Lynx improve their record to 17-10 (5-3) as they hit the road next weekend to take on the Hendrix College Warriors in a 3 game series.
