ROME, Ga. - Caillee Shamoun tossed a four-hit shutout to lead Berry to a 3-0 victory in the first game of doubleheader Friday at South Ford Field.  Berry rallied in the second game, but fell just short as Huntingdon defeated the Vikings 3-2 in the finale.

In the opener, Shamoun retired 18 of the final 20 batters she faced, sitting down 14 consecutive Hawks batters at one point in the middle of the game.  The righthander struck out five batters and did not walk any.

The Vikings scored their first two runs in the third inning on an RBI triple from Jessie Washington and a run-scoring single from Sara Vigue.  Chelsea Usher drove in the game's final run in the fourth with a single over the centefielder's head that scored Lacey Herring, who led off the inning with a triple.

Usher was 2-for-3 to lead the Vikings at the plate in the opener. 

In the second game, Huntingdon scored all three of its runs on a pair of RBI singles and an error.  That lead held until the bottom of the sixth, when Lindsey Campbell hit a comebacker to the pitcher, whose throw home to nab Usher was late, allowing the Vikings to pull to within a pair of runs and make the score 3-1.

Berry nearly pulled off the comeback bid in the seventh.  After the Vikings' first two hitters were retired, Kristen Stoll drew a walk, then went to second on an illegal pitch.  Lacey Herring then drew a base on balls to put a pair of runners on base for Usher, who hit a ground ball to the second baseman.  But the infielder booted the ball, allowing Stoll to score from second and Herring to move to third, while Usher dashed to second base on the throw attempting to get Herring at third.  With the tying and winning runs on base, Krista Woody struck out to end the game.

Bree Giordana earned the win for Huntingdon, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and four walks.  She struck out six batters in a complete game effort.

Shamoun, who started the second game before being removed with two outs in the third inning, allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk, while striking out one batter.  Andrea Cole, who came on in relief of Shamoun, tossed 4 1/3 shutout innings.

Berry will play its final home games of the season Saturday, when it hosts Birmingham-Southern at 1 p.m.

- BerryVikings.com -