By Matthew D. Stokes, BerryVikings.com Lead Writer

ROME, Ga. – Leading by two runs in the top of the ninth, Berry's baseball team could not hold on as it lost, 10-9, in an 11-inning game against Covenant on late Tuesday afternoon.

Berry dropped to 10-10 overall. Covenant upped its record to 15-3.

After tagging Berry starter Levi Austin for six runs (four earned) in the first three innings, Covenant held a 6-2 edge. Reliever Braxton Teal held Covenant's offense scoreless over the next four frames and allowed one hit and one walk.

With the score 6-3, Berry had a five-run seventh to claim a 8-6 advantage. Kevin Scott drove in the tying run with a RBI single to right field, and Devin Skelton and Grant Perkins each added run-scoring singles later in the inning.

Ahead by an 8-6 margin, Berry brought in Christian Champion to close out the action in the ninth. Covenant would go on to push across two runs on a K.C. Simons RBI single and Scott Gillespie's gametying hit up the middle.

Two innings later, Covenant scored the winning runs as Sterling Witt had a two-run single up the middle. Berry tallied one more run in the bottom of the eleventh, but Witt induced the game-ending flyout off the bat of Skelton to nail down the save.

Alex McGill and Scott had three hits apiece for Berry. Simons, Will Cleland, Gillespie and Braeden Lane each recorded two hits for Covenant.

Alec Mitchell (3-1) earned the victory for Covenant after pitching three and two-thirds scoreless innings. Michael Gwin (0-1) took the loss for Berry and gave up two runs (both earned) in his lone inning of work.

The Vikings will return to William R. Bowdoin Field for a three-game series against conference opponent Oglethorpe University on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.