April 18, 2008

MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Senior left-hander Robert Flanagan tossed his first complete game of the season, scattering six strikeouts and four hits, and junior Mason Mosby went 4-for-4 at the plate with a game-high five RBIs as Rhodes hammered Millsaps 14-2 in seven innings on Friday to take a 1-0 lead in a best-of-three series at USA Stadium.

After a 6 hour and 15 minute rain delay, Rhodes (27-11) came out firing and made a statement in the first inning, putting the first six runners on base and crossing the plate three times to take control in the opening game of the SCAC Divisional Playoffs.

From there, Flanagan (5-2) had all the offense he needed to settle in on the mound, holding the Millsaps bats quiet for all but two innings when Hunter Owen (13) and Tony Malaschak (5) launched solo home runs over the scoreboard in left. The win was the 30th of his career, making him just the second player in SCAC history to reach 30 career wins.

Rhodes scored in all but one inning they came to bat – the second – plating two in the third and fourth, six in the fifth and one in the sixth behind the three runs in the opening frame. They racked up 17 hits in the contest against five different Millsaps pitchers, the second-most the Majors have surrendered this season (Belhaven, 22).

Every Lynx starter recorded a hit in the contest, and behind Mosby’s five RBIs, freshman Brent Lindsey went 3-for-5 with four RBIs as he continues to have a strong rookie season. Malaschak picked up two of the Majors’ four hits, while Quinn Salmon and Owen added the other two.

The teams will continue a best-of-three series Saturday with first pitch slated for 11 a.m. Millsaps must win to force a Game 3. Andy Holt (6-4, 2.84 ERA) of Rhodes and Aaron Williams (4-2, 3.40 ERA) of Millsaps are scheduled to take the mound in Game 2.