Madison Moss collected three hits to lead Berry to a 3-1 victory over Rhodes in both teams' season opener Saturday in Jackson, Miss.

The Vikings held off Rhodes' attempt to rally in the eighth inning, when the Lynx loaded the bases against Berry pitchers Jonathan Stump and Cameron Rich.  But Vikings' head coach David Beasley summoned Trent Hillis from the bullpen with one out, and Hillis got the first batter to ground into an inning-ending double play that started when Hillis fielded the ball, threw home for the first out and the Berry catcher was able to force the batter out at first.

Hillis' defense would give him another double play in the ninth to help seal the victory.

Moss went 3-for-4 with a double, and was one of three Berry players with a multi-hit game.  Cason Dremann went 2-for-3 with a run batted in, a run scored and a sacrifice bunt, and Brandyn Jackson was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Casey Gray (1-0) earned the victory with four innings of relief.  He allowed one unearned run on three hits and three walks while striking out one batter. 

Gray was the second of five Berry pitchers used in the game.  He came on in relief of starter Levi Austin, who allowed a hit and walked one batter in one inning of work.

Stump fanned two batters in 2 1/3 innings before handing the ball to Rich, who faced two batters, with one out in the eighth.  After Rich's batters reached base, Hillis came on to get the double play in the eighth and then complete the ninth.

Hillis earned his first save of the season after striking out one batter and walking another in 1 2/3 innings of shutout ball.

Austin Carden (0-1) took the loss for Rhodes.  He allowed all three of the Vikings' runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Berry returns to action Sunday at noon (CST), when it faces University of the Ozarks at Smith-Wills Stadium, the former home of the Houston Astros' Class AA Texas League franchise.

- BerryVikings.com -