Box Score MEMPHIS-The Christian Brothers University Bucs scored six runs in the first three innings as they rolled to a 7-3 win over Rhodes in a non-conference game Wednesday at Nadicksbernd Field.

The Bucs (7-21) started the scoring early, with two in the bottom of the first. Tyler Burnett (Germantown, Tenn./Germantown HS) walked and Mickey Smith (Arlington, Tenn./Arlington HS) singled to put runners on first and second. Mac Cooley (Bartlett, Tenn./Horn Lake HS) reached on an error, allowing Burnett to score from second. After Smith was caught stealing, Cooley came home on a Josh Hopkins (Olive Branch, Miss./Southern Baptist Educational Center) single to left, giving the Bucs a 2-0 lead.

Rhodes (18-6) scored a run on three hits in the top of the second, but the Bucs answered in the bottom of the inning. Joe Mattson (Nashville, Tenn./Franklin Road Academy) walked and moved to second on a Caleb Goodwin (Shreveport, La./Evangel Christian Academy) sacrifice bunt. Cale Alexander (Bartlett, Tenn./Tipton-Rosemark Academy) singled to move Mattson to third, and Burnett drove him in with a single through the left side.

Rhodes scored another run in the third inning on three hits, but CBU answered in a big way in the bottom of the frame. Stephen Joe (Madison, Miss./Ridgeland HS) led off with a single and moved to second on a Hopkins sacrifice bunt. Josh Ambuehl (Las Vegas, Nev./Arlington HS) singled to center to move Joe to third, and Mattson laced a triple down the right field line to give CBU a 5-2 lead. Goodwin followed with an RBI single to left to extend the lead to 6-2.

Neither team would score again until the sixth, when Rhodes scored a run on a double, a groundout and a sacrifice fly. The Bucs set the final margin with a bases-loaded walk in the eighth. Walks to Goodwin and Burnett set the stage for an infield single by Cooley to load the bases. Joe drew a four-pitch walk to score Goodwin for the game's final run.

Smith, Cooley, Joe, Ambuehl and Alexander collected two hits each for CBU. Mattson collected two runs and two RBI. Michael Spain (Huron, Tenn./Lexington HS) improved his record to 3-2 as he allowed two runs on four hits in five innings out of the bullpen. Bill Higdon (Olive Branch, Miss./Center Hill HS) and Michael Lartigue (Southaven, Miss./Southaven HS) each tossed a scoreless inning.

The Bucs return to action Saturday at noon as they host West Alabama for a GSC doubleheader. Sunday's game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.