BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Birmingham-Southern softball team wanted to clinch their trip to the SAA Softball Championship with a first-game win on Sunday and did so in walk-off fashion in extra innings.

After four straight wins against Rhodes this season, the Panthers needed to make it five to prevent a second game on the day. However, it was Rhodes who got off to a quick start with two runs in the top of the first inning on an RBI single and a wild pitch. The Panthers did not allow the lead to last for long as Isabella Furgason and Maile White drove in runs to tie the game after one inning.

The two teams once again traded runs in the second inning beginning with a Rhodes sac fly. Katie Hart then brought home Olivia Trout to tie the game at three a piece after two innings of softball.

The Panthers took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth after sneaky base running by Katie Hart gave BSC their fourth run off the bat of Morgan McGuire. Natalie Snow kept the Lynx continued to keep the Lynx scoreless since the second inning and put 'Southern three outs away from returning to the SAA Title Game.

With one out, the Lynx tied the game on a bunt, but Snow got out of the inning allowing only the tying run. The Panthers failed to score in the seventh, but Natalie Snow stayed on the mound and had an excellent top of the eighth inning to give the Panthers another chance at a walk-off. 

With one out and runners on first and second base, Katie Hart singled up the middle to score Olivia Trout and send her team to Mount Berry for another shot at the Vikings in the SAA Championship.

Up Next
The Panthers will face #1 seed Berry in a best-of-three SAA Championship series starting tomorrow, May 3 at 4:00 p.m. EST.