DANVILLE, Ky. – The sixth-ranked Birmingham Southern softball team advanced to the championship game of the Southern Athletic Association tournament with an 11-7 win over Rhodes College and 13-3 victory over Berry College Friday. 

The Panthers (27-4) will play at 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday against the winner of the game between Berry and Rhodes Sunday morning.

GAME 1: Birmingham-Southern 11, Rhodes 7

After falling behind 3-0, the Panthers bats erupted with four runs in the third, six runs in the fourth and a single run in the fifth.

Eight of the nine starters tallied a hit with three players – Saydee Keith (Corner, Ala./Corner), Kailey Walters (Trussville, Ala./Hewitt-Trussville), and Alyssa Fowler (Moody, Ala./Moody) – recording two hits. Walters was 2-for-2 with a double and home run, and Fowler was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, a double and two RBI.

Madison Plunkett drove home a team-high three RBI as Keith and Morgan McGuire (Notasulga, Ala./Reeltown) had two RBI each.

Annie Clayton, 7-1, (Eufaula, Ala./Eufaula) allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits over three innings with five strikeouts. Hailee Bryan (Laurel Hill, Fla./Paxton) earned her fourth save of the season after allowing four runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts in four innings of action.

GAME 2: Birmingham-Southern 13, Berry 3

Birmingham Southern scored in each of the first four innings, including a six-run second inning.

Madison Plunkett (Alabaster, Ala./Thompson) and Saydee Keith (Corner, Ala./Corner) had four RBI each to lead the Panthers. Plunkett went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a double to go along with her four RBI, while Keith was 3-for-3 with a run scored. Kaylyn Chapman (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) added a pair of knocks, while Izzy Berkopec (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mars Area) registered a double among her two hits.

Lauren Keplinger (Pinson, Ala./Wallace State Hanceville) earned the win, allowing three earned runs on six hits over five innings with one strikeout.