MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - After splitting a Southern Athletic Association doubleheader with Centre on Saturday, the Vikings exploded for 16 runs on 16 hits, run-ruling the Colonels after just seven innings of play. Levi Cloud buried the Colonels with his third inning grand slam, finishing with six RBIs on the day.
The Vikings were held scoreless through two innings. The first outburst came in the third when singles from Zachary Hardee and Jack Poist finally opened the frame. A defensive lapse on an RBI fielder's choice from Spence Johns then scored both baserunners to make the score 2-0. John D'Amelio later singled in Johns and began an epic two out rally. Trace Cate and John Poist were issued free bases and set the table for Levi Cloud who, on a full count pitch, sent a no-doubter over the left field wall, making the score 7-0 entering the fourth.
The top of the line-up was due back up for the Vikings in the fourth inning which paved the way for three more runs. Jack Poist registered his second hit in as many innings and later came around to score on an RBI sacrifice fly from Wesley Wade. Two of the five errors committed by the Colonels would come in this half inning and two more runs would come across to score as a result, putting Centre down by 10.
A three-run blast from Centre in the fifth inning would be their only offense for the day. The Vikings would negate that effort and dash all hope of a comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning. Singles from Hardee, Johns and Wade spelled trouble for the Colonels with just one out. Andrew Pendleton then recorded his team-leading fifth triple of the season, collecting two RBIs. Cloud then completed the hardest leg of the cycle, tripling home Dalton Smith and Nick Brunswick, making the score 16-3.
The Vikings would only score in three innings but hang three crooked numbers, as they batted around in the third and fifth innings. Tyler Cassidy improved to 4-2 on the year with today's win, going a career-best 6.0 innings pitched and striking out three. The nine-hole Zachary Hardee finished the weekend 7-for-12 with six runs scored.
While still atop the SAA standings, the Vikings will host the LaGrange Panthers on Tuesday at 6 P.M.