2007 SCAC Divisional Baseball Tournament

Special thanks to Justin Parker, Trinity University Sports Information who contributed to this article

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Rhodes College jumped out to a 5-0 lead after one inning and refused to let Trinity University back in the game, earning a 15-4 run-rule shortened game in Friday's second game of the 2007 SCAC Divisional Baseball Tournament at Millington USA Field.

With the win, the Lynx (34-7) have a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Tomorrow's second game against the two teams will be at 2 p.m. CT.

Rhodes opened the game with five runs in the first inning against Tiger starter Drew Bignall, who fell to 2-4 with the loss. The Trinity offense answered with a couple of runs on back-to-back RBI doubles in the second, but Rhodes regained the five-run advantage with two more runs in the bottom of the inning.

Again, Trinity responded with two runs in its next inning to cut the lead to 7-4 heading into the bottom of the third. Rhodes, though, was up to the task once more - chasing Bignall from the game with three more runs to take its biggest lead at 10-4.

Trinity could not score again, and after another five-run inning by Rhodes (in the sixth), the run-rule was in effect. The Tigers did have nine hits, but stranded nine runners on base.

Robert Flanagan (11-1) took the win for Rhodes, pitching a complete game and allowing just four runs - three earned - on nine hits through seven innings of work.

In the top of the third inning, with the score 7-4, Flanagan was hit in the midsection by a come-back line drive off the bat of Bobby Zabor. But the big left-hander not only survived the injury scare, it seemed to settle him down.

Flanagan allowed just one hit and two baserunners the rest of the way, retiring 13 of the last 15 batters he faced.

Ricky Welch was 2-for-4 with two runs scored for Trinity, while Teddy Wilson drove in a pair of runs. Wilson and Samulski had the team's only extra-base hits - both RBI doubles in the second.

Matt Beesley was 2-for-4 with two runs and five RBI for Rhodes, while J.R. Bizzell was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI - cracking two triples. Mason Mosby also had three hits, scoring twice and driving in two more. Drew Hubbard also scored a pair of runs for the Lynx.

The two teams will play again tomorrow afternoon with the season on the line for Trinity. If Rhodes wins game two, they win the series and advance to the SCAC Championships next weekend. Should Trinity win, the series will continue on Sunday.