Game Recap: Rhodes vs. No. 21 Belhaven University
The Rhodes College baseball team delivered an offensive explosion on Tuesday afternoon, defeating No. 21 Belhaven University 17-6 at home to improve to 25-9 on the season. After a back-and-forth start, the Lynx broke the game open with a dominant middle-to-late innings surge, piling up 17 runs on 17 hits.
Game Recap
Rhodes struck first in the second inning on an RBI single from Shine Barran, but Belhaven answered in the third to even the score. The Lynx quickly regained control with a four-run third inning, highlighted by RBI hits from Corbin Martens, Ben Daniel, and Cooper Angilly, along with a sacrifice fly from Myles Kruger.
The momentum continued into the fourth when Martens launched a three-run home run to extend the lead to 8-1. Belhaven responded in the fifth with three home runs in the inning, cutting the deficit to 8-6 and briefly shifting the pressure back onto Rhodes.
The Lynx responded emphatically. In the sixth inning, Rhodes erupted for seven runs, stringing together timely hitting and capitalizing on free passes. Brad Larson and Martens each delivered RBI hits, while Brandon Trichell drove in two with a single. Barran capped the inning with a two-run home run to push the lead to 15-6. Trichell added the finishing touch in the seventh with a two-run homer to seal the 17-6 victory.
Key Performances
Corbin Martens led the offensive charge, going 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs. Brad Larson had a perfect day at the plate, finishing 4-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Brandon Trichell added a strong performance, going 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs. Shine Barran contributed two hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs.
Austin Smith provided a spark at the top of the lineup, scoring three runs and drawing four walks to consistently put pressure on the Belhaven pitching staff. Myles Kruger added two hits and two RBIs, while Cooper Angilly chipped in an RBI and a stolen base.
On the mound, Nathan Shumway earned the win (1-0), allowing one run over 3.0 innings. Reid Manti absorbed the bulk of Belhaven's offensive push but worked through two innings, while Ed Anglin and Jackson Stanyard combined for two scoreless innings in relief to shut the door.
Game Highlights
Rhodes' four-run third inning flipped early momentum and gave the Lynx control. Martens' three-run homer in the fourth stretched the lead, but the game tightened after the Blazers five-run fifth inning powered by three home runs. The decisive moment came in the sixth, when Rhodes sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs to break the game open for good.
Up Next: Rhodes at Trinity University
Rhodes will look to carry momentum from its explosive offensive performance into a key three-game conference series at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. The series begins with a single game on Friday night at 6:00 PM, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, April 25, at 1:00 and 4:00 PM. With the Lynx sitting near the top of the SAA standings, the matchup holds important postseason implications as the regular season winds down.
