By Matthew D. Stokes
BerryVikings.com Staff Writer

ROME, Ga. – Austin Neely drove in four runs and Preston Neely delivered three hits and scored three times to help lead to a 13-5 victory over Maryville in a Thursday afternoon matchup at Berry's William R. Bowdoin Field.

Maryville jumped out to a fast start, scoring off Berry starting pitcher Cameron Rich on a Nick Dean hit-and-run RBI double in the first inning. Another run crossed the plate in the second when Preston Neely bobbled a hot shot off Nic Baker's bat at third base, allowing Travis Scates to slide in safely from third.

By the third, Rich got the hook after pitching two and a third innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs, along with a walk and a strikeout. Berry outfielders Brandyn Jackson and Stephen Gaylor prevented two more runners from scoring in that half inning, throwing out back-to-back base runners at home plate.

Building on the momentum set by their defense, Berry hitters posted four runs in the bottom half of the third. Austin Neely ripped a game-tying two-run single, then Thomas Johnson brought home the tiebreaking run on a fielder's choice.

Berry tacked on an additional two runs in the fourth, forcing Maryville starting pitcher Trevor Brackett out of the game. The right-hander took the loss after going three and two-thirds innings, allowing six runs (two earned) and six hits with two walks and a strikeout.

Righthander Levi Austin, who came on in relief of Rich in the third, pitched his way through Maryville's lineup unscathed until the sixth, when he yielded three runs, shrinking a four-run Berry lead to 6-5. He did, however, grind his way out of the jam, stranding two runners by striking out Landon Talley.

Austin received a healthy helping of run support in the bottom half of the seventh as Berry tore off five insurance runs. It started with back-to-back RBI singles by Jonathan Stump and Preston Neely, continued with a sacrifice fly by Christian Champion and was capped off by an Austin Neely two-run single.

Levi Austin was credited with the win, tossing five and two-thirds innings of three-run ball (one earned) with six strikeouts and a walk.

Austin Neely had two hits to go with his four RBIs. Cason Dremann and Jackson also finished with two hits apiece.

Dean laced three hits for Maryville while Cory Kopec and Andrew Mabini also recorded multi-hit games.

Overall Berry head coach was pleased with the team's effort.

"Last week we started playing a lot better baseball," Beasley said. "Now we're taking better at-bats, and we're pitching better. I told our guys yesterday that I feel like we're a totally new club halfway through the season, and I like where we are."

Berry will face Oglethorpe University Friday night in Atlanta at 6 p.m.

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