Oglethorpe broke open a close game with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and went on to defeat Berry 9-2 in a baseball game in Atlanta Friday evening.

Berry trailed 2-0 after three innings, but cut its deficit in half with a run in the fourth when Thomas Johnson scored when Oglethorpe's first baseman dropped a throw from the pitcher on a Cason Dremann batted ball.

But the Stormy Petrels would answer with run  in the bottom of the fourth, when T.J. Schmutz drove in Joseph Parillo with an RBI ground out that gave OU a 3-1 advantage.

Neither team scored in the fifth and the Vikings were set down in order in the top of the sixth, setting the stage for Oglethorpe's big inning.

The Stormy Petrels sent 12 batters to the plate against three Berry pitchers in the sixth, and were aided by an error that resulted in two unearned runs.

The Vikings did pick up a run in the ninth when Nick Stidham's sacrifice fly scored Dremann, but Preston Neely grounded into a double play to end a possible rally.

Berry was held to five hits by Oglethorpe hurler Emmett Goodman, who tossed a complete game. Goodman struck out five batters and walked three while not allowing an earned run.

Johnson had two of the Vikings hits, while Austin Neely and Dremann each had one.

Schmutz and Frank Sarno drove in two runs each for OU, while Jake Spear, Parillo and Joey McAlpin collected two hits each for the Petrels.

Gray was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) in five-and-one-third innings. He struck out six batters and walked two before giving way to Reese with one out in the sixth.

Berry won't have to wait long to get another crack at Oglethorpe. The teams meet Saturday at 2 p.m., at Berry's William R. Bowdoin Field.

 - BerryVikings.com -