MEMPHIS, TN – The Blackburn College Softball team took on Rhodes College in another nonconference doubleheader but fell to the Lynx 16-5 and 4-2 to conclude their spring break trip to Tennessee. 

Sophomore Zoe Mitchell paced the Beavers with two runs and two runs batted in. Six players in total finished with a hit.

In the first game, Blackburn entered the third inning down 9-0. Sophomore Brianna Melchor opened the third with a single and advanced to second when senior Lexi Shaw reached first off an error. Sophomore Breana Allen followed by getting hit by a pitch to load the bases before Melchor scored the team's first run as part of the next at bat. A fielder's choice put senior Mckenzie Smith on but saw Shaw get thrown out at home. After Smith stole second, senior Holly Heuerman walked to load the bases again. Mitchell was then hit by a pitch which allowed Allen to score, and Mackey walked to score Smith giving the Beavers three runs in the inning. 

The Lynx responded with a run in their third, then added six more in the bottom of the fourth. In the fifth inning, freshman Kailynn Kruep was hit by a pitch and scored when a Rhodes outfielder had an error on a ball hit by Mitchell. With Mitchell now on second due to the error, junior Grace Mackey walked. Freshman Sierra Hiser then came up and hit a ball that resulted in another Lynx error that allowed Mitchell to score. However, Blackburn was unable to score any more runs and fell 16-5 in the game. 

The teams returned for the second game of the doubleheader. Entering the fifth inning, Blackburn trailed 1-0 but managed to take a 2-1 lead. Mitchell got the inning going with a single then moved to second when freshman Shelby Koeing walked. During the next at bat, Melchor was out at first but an error allowed Mitchell to score and tie the game. After Hiser reached first, Shaw singled which let Koeing score. However, the hosts responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning which proved to much to overcome for Blackburn, giving Rhodes a 4-2 win. 

The Beavers will now return to their home field to take on Harris Stowe University Wednesday.