MOUNT BERRY, Ga. -- The Berry Vikings triumphed over the Marietta Pioneers 10-2 Saturday night, thanks to strong pitching performances from starter Jackson Collett and relievers Nicholas Angelakos and Aubrey Moraitakis.
Collett picked up where he left off after his strong outing against Belhaven last weekend, as he recorded three strikeouts in the first inning. The Vikings offense wasted no time in the bottom of the first, as Alex Knapp led off with a double, and Joey Garcia followed with a triple to put the Vikings on the board. A Riley Uhls warning track sacrifice fly scored Garcia, and that was all the first inning had in store for Berry.
Collett walked a run in for the Pioneers in the top of the second inning, and that was all the Marietta offense could produce until the sixth inning. The Vikings added another run in the bottom of the third inning on Caleb Spikes's bases loaded walk, making the score 3-1.
After a quick fourth inning from Collett, Berry went back to work and added two more runs. The first of these runs came when Garcia squared around to bunt and advance Alex Knapp. Nobody covered third base for Marietta following the sacrifice, allowing Knapp to move up an extra base, and an errant throw allowed him to score. Nick Brunswick's triple followed by Uhls's RBI double made the score 5-1 in favor of the Vikings.
Another quick inning from Collett in the fifth allowed Berry to keep the momentum going, as they plated their sixth run of the night on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Garcia.
Collett started the sixth in the same way he had worked the last few innings but ran into trouble after getting the second out. A walk and two singles scored a run and ended his great outing. The Vikings then turned the game to Angelakos, who promptly struck out the first batter he faced, ending the inning with the score 6-2.
Berry continued scoring as the game went on, with the next run coming on Andrew Pendleton's bases loaded walk in the seventh inning. Three more runs came across in the eighth inning, two on Knapp's single and one on Aiden Cloud's sacrifice fly, altogether making the score 10-2 heading into the ninth inning.
Moraitakis struck out the side swinging in the ninth to finish the game and seal the 10-2 victory for the Vikings.
Knapp tied for the team lead with three hits and two RBIs, and he also stole a base, scored twice, and walked. Jameson Farley also had three hits, and Uhls and Garcia each had two RBIs. Spikes, Pendleton, and Cloud each had an RBI.
Collett earned his second win of the season with his performance, continuing the positive momentum from his last start. He pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, and struck out six batters. Angelakos followed Collett with a scoreless 1.1 innings of work with three strikeouts and no walks. Moraitakis closed out the game with a scoreless two innings of work, only allowing one baserunner and striking out three batters. The pitching staff for the Vikings combined for an impressive 12 strikeouts.
Berry returns to action Sunday at noon ET, as they host these same Marietta Pioneers. Shortly after that game, the Vikings will also host LaGrange College, with the first pitch slated for 4 p.m. ET.
