MEMPHIS - The University of the South softball team secured a series win for the second straight weekend, as the Purple Tigers used extra innings to defeat the Lynx of Rhodes College, 4-3, in the opener of a Saturday twin bill from the Rhodes Softball Field.
Rhodes avoided the series sweep with an 11-3 victory in the second game of the twin bill.
Similar to Friday's game, due to rain that impacted the southeastern part of middle Tennessee, including all of Sewanee, the series was moved to Memphis. Despite the relocation, Sewanee was still designated as the home team.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final Score (Game 1): Sewanee 4, Rhodes 3 (9 innings)
Final Score (Game 2): Rhodes (9-22, 2-13) 11, Sewanee (11-24, 7-11) 3
Sewanee Athletics Social Media | Twitter/Instagram: @SewaneeTigers
Softball Social Media | Twitter: @SoftballSewanee | Instagram: @Sewanee_Softball | TikTok: @SewaneeSoftball
HOW IT HAPPENED, GAME 1
-Sewanee got the offense started in the bottom of the first. After a leadoff double by
Eve Bournias,
Hannah Wilson made it 1-0 with a double of her own.
-Rhodes broke through in the tird with a double and sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.
-Sewanee tried to retake the lead in the fourth and loaded the bases, but a groundout ended the threat.
-The score remained 2-1 until the bottom of the seventh. After
Sam Dean led off the inning with a infield hit, back-to-back groundouts pushed Dean 60 feet away. Wilson, with two outs, came through to tie the game and force the game to extra innings.
-In the eighth, after back-to-back singles, the Tigers were forced to make a change in the circle with one out. With
Michaela Walker now pitching, she was able to leave the runners on base.
-In the bottom half, Sewanee also had an opportunity to win the game. With runners on the corners and one out, back-to-back strirkeouts ended the threat.
-In the ninth, the tie was no more. Rhodes had runners on the corners with one out and a sacrifice fly gave the Lynx the 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.
-After a groundout that started the Tigers ninth, a
Zoe Crockett infield and a Wilson triple made it 3-3. Two batters later, Walker, who came in relief for the Tigers, came through with the stick, as she laced the walk-off single to the left-center field gap.
HOW IT HAPPENED, GAME 2
-With the series already in hand, Sewanee got the bats going again in the night cap.
Eve Bournias, who led off the inning with a double, later scored on a sacrifice fly by
Zoe Crockett.
-Two batters later,
Alice Charboneau went lift off for her fifth home run of the 2023 season.
-The Lynx would respond in a loud way to avoid the sweep, scoring two runs to tie the game in the third and putting it away with four runs in the fifth and five in the seventh.
-Sewanee did add a third run in the bottom of the fourth stanza. After a lead-off free pass by Charboneau,
Madilyn Parker brought her home on a sac fly.
SAA STANDINGS
-Sewanee finishes the regular season in Southern Athletic Association play at 7-11, marking the best record in league play since the inception of the SAA in 2013.
-The Tigers' seven wins in conference play matches the third-best total in program history, joining the 2000 team.
-With Sewanee having the last week of conference play off, the Purple and White are guaranteed to finish no worse than fifth in the upcoming SAA Tournament at the end of April.
SEWANEE KEY STATISTICS
-
Madilyn Parker went 3-for-4 on the day in game one and added a hit and RBI in game two.
-
Hannah Wilson had a double and three RBI en route to a 3-for-5 day at the dish in the opening game of the twin bill.
-
Hanna Hollis tossed 7.1 innings in game one, allowing two runs on nine hits.
Michaela Walker (7-16) earned the win in relief in the first game of the doubleheader with a strikeout in 1.2 innings. In the night cap, Walker allowed three runs in seven innings.
RHODES KEY STATISTICS
-Jasmyn Stanley went 6-for-10 on the doubleheader with identical 3-for-5 performances.
-Gina Dudley (6-7) tossed the complete game with three strikeouts.
UP NEXT
With the conference schedule in the books, the Tigers will now turn their attention to Senior Day next Sunday, April 16, as they take on the Mississippi University for Women. First pitch is scheduled for noon from the Tiger Softball Field.
For the latest news on the Sewanee Tigers, follow @SewaneeTigers on
Twitter and
Instagram, and like us on
Facebook.
