By: MacKenzie Tuttle, Digital Content Supervisor

MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - Ending the best season in program history, the Berry College softball team fell to the Pioneers of Transylvania University 8-0 in the NCAA Regional Championship matchup on Sunday afternoon.

The Vikings' record-setting season came to a close in five innings as Transy's Renae Morton tossed five scoreless frames to advance in the NCAA tournament. 

Berry exits after collecting a program-best 40 wins this season, in addition to their fifth straight Southern Athletic Association (SAA) regular season title and their third straight trip to the NCAA tournament. 

QUICK FACTS:

• The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead, plating two runs in the bottom of the third inning off of an RBI single and a wild pitch.
• Transylvania then added an additional run in the bottom of the fourth inning, following a bases loaded walk, to move the score to 3-0.
• The Pioneers added five runs off of three additional singles in the bottom of the fifth inning to push the score to 8-0 and ensure the run-rule victory over the Vikings.
• On the day, Berry added two hits to Transylvania's seven. 

BERRY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS:

• Kayla Sangrey: 1-for-2
• Katlin Seger: 1-for-2
• Kassie Howard: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 9 K, 5 BB, L (16-2)

TRANSYLVANIA STATISTICAL STANDOUTS:

• Jessica Powell: 2-for-3, R
• Sydney Motell: 2-for-4, 3 RBIs
• Janelle Hynes: 1-for-2, R, RBI
• Shelby Gambrell: 1-for-3, R, 2 RBIs
• Shelbi Poehlein: 1-for-1, R, BB
• Renae Morton: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K, BB, W (20-7)

NOTABLES:

• Berry finishes the season 40-4 overall, a new program record
• Transylvania advances to the NCAA Super Regional Competition, improving to 34-11 on the year.
• Marie Collop, Kassie Howard and Kayla Sangrey were named to the All-Tournament Team

Postgame interview with Head Coach Cori Thiermann, Marie Collop and Kenzie Fleming