MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - Berry loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning, but couldn't bring home the tying run as the Vikings fell to visiting No. 9 LaGrange, 4-3, at William R. Bowdoin Field Tuesday night.

Trailing 4-2 entering the late stages, Berry (9-15) cut the lead in half in the seventh. After a walk to John Poist, Nick Brunswick executed a perfect hit-and-run single to put runners on the corners. Brunswick then darted for second as part of a play on the base paths to try to get Poist home. The play would work as Brunswick stopped en route to second and the second baseman took his eye off the ball momentarily, allowing it to bounce away into center field. Poist came home and Brunswick moved to third as the score moved to 4-3.

The Vikings would get two runners into scoring position in the eighth inning, but a strikeout ended the threat. Then in the ninth, Poist doubled, then Brunswick and Wesley Wade drew walks to load the bases with one out. That would be as close as the Vikings would come as a pair of strikeouts ended the game with the bases still full.

Berry (9-15) used a hit batter, a walk, and a passed ball to set the stage for two runs in the second. Levl Cloud would be plunked by a pitch, then stole second as John D'Amelio walked on four pitches. Both Berry runners would move into scoring position as a passed ball, but a pop out would mean the Vikings needed a two-out knock to open the scoring. That knock would come from Andrew Pendleton, as the Berry catcher chopped a full count offering just through the right side of the infield, plating both runners to give BC the lead.

Aubrey Higgins had his best start as a Viking as he didn't give up a run over his first four innings. In the fifth, Higgins would be relieved with two runners on and one out in the inning. LaGrange (18-6) would do the damage, eventually plating four runs to take a 4-2 lead. Koby Dunn and Tyler Cassidy eventually combined to pitch 4.2 scoreless innings of relief, but the damage was done as the Panthers took the lead and would not give it up.

Berry will be back in Southern Athletic Association action this Saturday at the University of the South to start a three-game set. First pitch Saturday is set for Noon.