BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Birmingham-Southern softball took down the No. 6 seed Rhodes College in the semifinal of BSC Pod in the SAA Conference Tournament. The Panthers put up four runs in the third inning to take a fast lead over the Lynx.
Margaret Axelson started in the circle for the Panthers, facing three batters in the top of the first and striking out two of them. Axelson went 9 straight outs to start off the game and not allowing a hit until the fifth inning. A sacrifice bunt brought in the first run for Birmingham-Southern in the bottom of the first. Emma Jolley scored on a throwing error from center field. Izzy Berkopec sent a double to left field to score Katie Hart and Morgan McGuire, pushing the Panthers lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third. The final run for BSC came from an RBI single by Axelson. The Lynx put up their only run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single. The Panthers took the game 5-1, ending the game on a runner caught stealing at home. Axelson finished the game with 8 strikeouts, only allowing one run and four hits.
Scoring Summary
- B1 | Sacrifice bunt from Fowler drove in Berkopec (1-0, 2 Out)
- B3 | A throwing error by center field allowed Jolley to score (2-0, 0 Out)
- B3 | Berkopec slugged a double into left field to score two (4-0, 0 Out)
- B3 | Two-out RBI single from Axelson scored Berkopec (5-0, 2 Out)
- T7 | An RBI single to right field scored the Lynx only run (5-1, 2 Out)
Pitching decisions
WIN: Margaret Axelson (16-2)
LOSS: Emma Pertuit (0-3)
Records
#2 Birmingham-Southern 30-7 Overall, #6 Rhodes 12-24 Overall
Up next
Birmingham-Southern will advance to the Pod Final of the SAA Conference Tournament on Sunday, April 30 at 12 p.m. against Centre College.
