By Matthew D. Stokes, BerryVikings.com Lead Writer

ROME, Ga. – Berry's softball team claimed the first two matchups of its four-game series against Centre at Ford Field. Game scores were 18-0 and 7-5 on Saturday afternoon.

Berry upped its overall record to 21-7 and 13-3 in Southern Athletic Association competition. Centre dropped to 7-14 and 6-11.

In the opener, Berry batted through its entire lineup in each of the first three innings, scoring four, six and eight runs in those frames respectively.

Kristen Stoll tripled and homered in her first two trips to the plate and ended the day with two hits, two runs and three RBIs. Lacey Herring went a perfect 3-for-3 and picked up three runs and three RBIs.

Centre's Hannah Simpson accounted for the team's lone extra-base hit with a double.

Berry's Caillee Shamoun (9-2) went the distance for her third shutout of the season. She allowed four hits and a walk in addition to eight strikeouts. Centre starting pitcher Emily Meador (5-6) took the loss and allowed eight hits and nine runs (four earned).

In the nightcap, Berry tacked on a first-inning run and led through three innings. Centre plated two in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead, but Berry pushed across two of its own in the bottom half to reclaim its edge, 3-2.

Centre took advantage of three Berry fielding errors in the top of the sixth to go ahead, 5-4. With the team trailing by that same score, Herring smacked the first pitch from Emily Landherr (2-5) over the fence in the left center for a three-run home run.

Berry's game two starter Natalie Boyd reentered in the seventh and worked around a leadoff single to nail down her first career save.

Herring totaled two runs, three hits and four RBIs to finish the afternoon with seven hits for Berry. Centre's Ashley Christian led the team with two hits.

Allison Coronado (6-3) earned the win and pitched two innings in relief for Berry. She gave up three runs (one earned). Centre's Landherr pitched a six-inning complete game in a losing effort. She surrendered eight hits and seven runs (two earned).

The Vikings and Colonels will complete this four-game set with a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for noon.