The Rhodes Lynx kicked off the SAA Tournament in dominant fashion, sweeping a doubleheader against Oglethorpe to advance past the first round. With strong pitching, clutch hitting, and steady defense, Rhodes took both games convincingly, setting the tone for a deep postseason run.
Game 1:
The Lynx delivered a commanding 11–1 victory in game 1, fueled by a dominant pitching performance and a relentless offensive outburst in the later innings. Rhodes opened the scoring in the third inning with a three-run rally. A sharp single to second by Corbin Kinder brought in the first run, followed by a stolen base and error that allowed Kinder to score. A sacrifice fly from Brandon Trichell made it 3–0, giving the Lynx an early cushion.
After conceding a lone run in the top of the fourth, Rhodes quickly regained momentum. A double to right center plated another run, and a single to left stretched the lead to 5–1. The eighth inning proved decisive. Capitalizing on defensive miscues, Rhodes put up a six-run frame. An error on a comebacker scored one, followed by a string of RBI hits, including a bases-clearing double that broke the game wide open.
Ben Burkhart led the way at the plate, going 2-5 with three RBIs, while Myles Kruger added two hits, two RBIs, and scored twice. Corbin Kinder added a hit, two steals, and scored twice in a well-rounded offensive effort.
Zac Sohosky was dominant on the mound, tossing seven innings of one-run ball, allowing just five hits and striking out seven. Will May pitched a scoreless eighth to seal the win.
Game 2:
Behind a clutch seventh-inning rally and a balanced offensive attack, Rhodes came from behind to defeat Oglethorpe 9–3 and complete the sweep in the opening round of the SAA Tournament.
Oglethorpe struck first, plating a run in the opening frame and again in the third to take a 2–1 lead. Rhodes answered in the fourth when Cooper Angilly launched a solo home run to even the score at 2–2. But it was the seventh inning where the Lynx seized control for good. Trailing 3–2, Rhodes loaded the bases and tied the game on a wild pitch. Moments later, Quinn Blackman drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Lynx their first lead of the game, and Cooper Kuriger followed with a fielder's choice that made it 5–3.
The offense didn't stop there. In the eighth, Ben Burkhart delivered the decisive blow—a three-RBI single to left center that, combined with a fielding error, cleared the bases. Corbin Kinder capped off the inning with an RBI single to make it 9–3.
Burkhart led the way offensively, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Angilly homered, and both Kinder and Trichell added an RBI apiece.
On the mound, Ben Daniel delivered a solid start, allowing two earned runs over six innings. Ryan Fallmann earned the win in relief, and Will May closed out the game with a clean ninth.
The Lynx advance to the next round of the SAA Tournament where they will take on the Colonels, riding momentum and a two-game sweep fueled by timely hitting, aggressive baserunning, and solid pitching.
