MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Vikings took on the Lynx in the final installment of their three-game series, where they fell in a tightly contested affair with a final score of 9-12.
The drama was high early on as Alex Knapp made his way to third base but was tagged out at home plate off a grounder from Nick Brunswick for the second out of the inning, keeping the score at 0-0 in the top of the first inning. A fielder's choice and a fielding error led to the Lynx taking a 2-0 advantage heading into the top of the second inning.
With runners on first and third base for the Vikings following a Chase Edmonds single, Garrett Lang lined a ball out that resulted in him advancing to first base, but Jacob Bridges was tagged out at home. On the ensuing at-bat, an error would result in Chase Edmonds scoring the first run of the game for Berry, cutting the Rhodes lead to just one run. A two-run RBI triple from Brunswick into left field on the next at-bat galvanized the Vikings who took a 3-2 lead at the top of the second.
The action continued in the bottom of the second inning as starting pitcher Jackson Collett helped to generate two quick outs. On the following at-bat, Rhodes would generate a home run to tie the game at three before the top of the third inning.
The Vikings answered in the top of the fourth, with Lang and Knapp scoring on errors to award the Vikings with a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning where the Viking defense held it's ground.
The top of the fifth would end in the Vikings leaving a runner stranded at second base heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. The Lynx loaded the bases and would score a run after a batter was hit by a pitch that cut the Berry lead to just one run, 5-4. Following the entry of Cole Porter on the mound, Berry gave up a two-run double that put the Lnyx back on top 6-5.
Berry's offense continued to be a factor in the top of the sixth inning as the seesaw affair rolled on. An Alex Knapp double put him in scoring position, where he eventually came home to tie the game at 6 off of a Riley Uhls grounder.
A two-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth gave Rhodes some breathing room as the Vikings trailed 6-8 at the top of the seventh inning.
Berry was not able to respond in the bottom of the seventh. The bottom bought more powerful hitting from the Lynx, as they drove another home run to make the score 6-9.
The Vikings came roaring back in the top of the eighth with a three-run home run off the bat of Riley Uhls who also scored Knapp and Brunswick to even the game at 9 apiece.
Rhodes again answered in the bottom of the 8th inning, as they methodically put through three runs to take a 12-9 lead heading into the ninth.
Despite a couple of runners advancing to first base, the Vikings could not generate any runs in the bottom of the ninth to catch the Lynx and fell in a thriller by a final score of 12-9.
Berry Baseball will travel to Danville, Kentucky, for their next competition on April 5 to take on Centre College for a doubleheader at 1 PM and 4 PM ET.
