Birmingham-Southern hosted the Rhodes Lynx for the final weekend of SAA play this season. Before the series, BSC secured the No. 2 spot in the conference by a one game lead, meaning a series win would clench them hosting a portion of the conference tournament.
Game 1: Birmingham-Southern set the tone of the game early, putting up five runs in the second inning. Bella Furgason got things started with a single up the middle, followed by a Maile White RBI double. Olivia Trout and Leah Wood secured back-to-back singles to load up the bases. A Jaley Davis SAC fly earned BSC's second run of the game. With two on and two out, Katie Hart delivered a clutch 2 RBI double to left field. Emma Jolley also got in on the action with an infield single to score Hart.
BSC starter in the circle Natalie Snow dominated through the Rhodes order, picking up four strikeouts in the first two innings.
Rhodes kept BSC at bay for the next three innings, while they strung together a run in both the third and fifth inning.
Going into the 5th inning, BSC led by a score of 5-2. Emma Jolley led the Panthers off with a single and Moe McGuire followed with her own base hit. A SAC bunt by Bella Furgason put both runners in scoring position for Natalie Snow. Snow knocked a double off the left field wall to give BSC the 7-2 advantage.
BSC's momentum continued into the next frame, scoring three runs off singles from Jaley Davis and Katie Hart, and an RBI ground ball from Moe McGuire. Bella Furgason walked off the game for the Panthers with a 2 RBI double for the run rule victory.
Game 2: The second game of the double header proved to be a more competitive outing for the Lynx, scoring two runs in the top of the first.
BSC responded in the home half of the inning, Katie Hart doubled and Emma Jolley singled to put two Panthers aboard. A Lynx error and Natalie Snow single up pushed three runs to give BSC a 3-2 lead.
Katie Hart and Emma Jolley found base hits again in the second, along with a Jaley Davis walk to load up the bases. Moe McGuire had an RBI infield single, and Maile White reached on an error to tally two more runs.
Rhodes once again battled back in the third, plating two runs to make the score 6-4.
The scoreboard was quiet for both sides for three full innings. BSC lefty Olivia Trout picked up four strikeouts and allowed no walks through her seven innings of work. The Lynx searched for momentum again in the seventh but were unable to close the gap. BSC earned the series win with a final score of 6-5 in the second game.
Game 3: The final game of the series started in similar fashion, as BSC took a quick lead in the home half of the first. Katie Hart, Emma Jolley, and Moe McGuire all singled to put three panthers aboard. Bella Furgason delivered an RBI single up the middle to make the score 1-0. With bases loaded, both Olivia Trout and Leah Wood walked to plate two more runs.
Rhodes found their first success at the plate in top of the third, scoring two runs off three hits and two Panther errors.
Senior
MC Campbell dominated through her six innings of work, allowing no earned runs and picked up two strikeouts.
Neither team was able to string together another run for the remaining four innings. BSC earned a 3-2 Game 3 victory and secured the series sweep to end the regular season.
The Panthers will host a portion of the SAA Conference Tournament this weekend starting on Friday, April 26th.
