Casey Gray pitched four shutout innings and Austin Neely drew a bases-loaded walk with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Berry a 3-2 win over Lynchburg in the first game of a doubleheader Friday.  Lynchburg salvaged a split with a 7-1 win in the second game.

Both games of the twin bill were scheduled for seven innings.

Berry first baseman Thomas Johnson opened the bottom of the seventh inning of the first game with a walk, and then was replaced by pinch runner TC Boyd.  Lynchburg pitcher James Womack followed the base on balls with a wild pitch that allowed Boyd to head to second.  After Isaac Hardee drew another walk to put runners on first and second with nobody out, Lynchburg head coach removed Womack in favor of Robert Garrett

The first batter Garrett faced was Brandyn Jackson, who dropped down a sacrifice bunt that put both runners in scoring position.  After Cory Pitts drew an intentional walk to load the bases, Neely was sent to the plate to pinch hit for Zach Farmer, who had driven in the game's first run in the third inning. 

Neely drew the walk to give him his second game-winning RBI in as many games.  In last Sunday's game against the University of the Ozarks, Neely delivered a run-scoring single in the 10th inning that turned out to be the game winner.

Berry reliever Jon Stump (1-0) earned the win.  In three innings of work, Stump allowed two runs on four hits and two walks.  He struck out two batters.

Stump came on in relief of Gray, who had a solid outing.  Gray allowed three hits, one each in the second, third and fourth innings, respectively.  He worked out of a jam in the fourth, when he gave up a leadoff double and was then victimized by an error behind him that put runners on second and third.  After Gray fanned the next batter, he delivered the only walk he would issue on the afternoon to load the bases.  But he struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning and cap a seven-strikeout performance.   

Womack (0-1) took the loss.  He was the second Lynchburg pitcher, coming on in relief of starter Michael Mansfield, who allowed two runs in four innings.  Mansfield struck out four and walked three.  Womack allowed one run on two walks and a hit in his two innings.  He struck out four batters.

In the second game, Lynchburg scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back. 

Berry's lone run came in the second, as Bryn Cloer scored from third base when Michael Frazer swiped second and drew an error on the second base that allowed Cloer to cross the plate.

The Vikings were held to just two hits in the game, singles by Frazier and Madison Moss.

Lynchburg hurler Trevor Johnston (1-0) earned the victory.  Johnston allowed just one unearned run on two hits in a complete-game effort.  He struck out four batters and walked three.

Berry starter Josh Dilbeck (1-1) took the loss.  He allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings.  He struck out three batters.

Carter Reese came on in relief of Dilbeck in the fifth inning.  Reese allowed one run in 1 1/3 inning of work.  He walked two and did not allow a hit.  Reese struck out one batter.

Berry enters tomorrow's game against Methodist University at 4 p.m., with a 3-1 overall record.

- BerryVikings.com -