BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—A five-run explosion in the eighth inning powered the No. 6 Birmingham-Southern baseball team past No. 14 Rhodes 7-5 Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of the Southern Athletic Association series at Striplin Field.

The victory gives the Panthers the series win and takes BSC to 26-7-1 overall and 13-4-1 in the SAA. Rhodes drops to 24-11 and 11-6 in the SAA.

It was the regular season home finale for the Panthers, with BSC's senior class being recognized prior to the game.

BSC struck first in the bottom of the third when a junior Taylor McCracken single to right scored senior David Bourbonnais. Another McCracken single, this time to center field, plated sophomore Jack Rhodes in the fifth to extend the Panther lead to 2-0.

Rhodes answered by scoring a pair of runs in the top of the sixth and eighth innings to claim a 4-2 lead.

The Rhodes advantage would be short lived. BSC's bats came alive in the bottom half of the eighth with the Panthers scoring five runs off four hits and four walks. During the offensive onslaught, a single by sophomore Jack Rhodes to right drove home Bourbonnais and sophomore Jacob Drescher, matching teammate McCracken for a game-high two RBI.

On the hill, sophomore starter Stephen Himic went seven strong innings, allowing only two runs in the no decision. Bourbonnais (2-1) entered the game in the eighth and picked up the victory.

The Panthers will host LaGrange Tuesday at 6 p.m.