MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - The No. 5 Berry College softball team (13-3) split a doubleheader with the No. 9 Huntingdon College Hawks as they fell 5-3 before bouncing back to win 9-3 in the second game on Thursday.
Game 1:
Ava Fouts (5-2) took the loss pitching a complete game 7 innings allowing five runs, four earned on nine hits while walking four and striking out three. Lauren Cothern led the offense going 2-for-4 with 3 RBI.
The Hawks took the early lead as they went up 1-0 in the top of the second. The Vikings looked to answer but the Hawks added to their lead with a three spot in the top of the third to go up 4-0. The Hawks would then add a run in the top of the fifth to increase their lead to 5-0.
The Vikings didn't give up and finally found some offense in the bottom of the fifth as Cothern launched a two run two out double over the head of the center fielder to pull the Vikings within 5-2. Fouts meanwhile kept the Hawks from adding to their lead as the Vikings had one last chance in the bottom of the seventh. Cothern would come through with another two out RBI hit to make it 5-3 but that's as close as the Vikings got as they dropped the first game.
Game 2:
JJ Sweat (7-1) picked up the win throwing a complete game 7 innings allowing three runs, two earned on seven hits while walking five and striking out three. Erica Bennett led the offense going 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs.
The Vikings jumped on top in the bottom of the second as they took advantage of an error to go up 1-0. The Vikings tried to add to their lead in the bottom of the third as they loaded the bases with one out but they were unable to convert. The Hawks then struck back in the top of the fourth with a little help from the wind to take a 2-1 lead.
The Vikings weren't down for long as they put a big number in the bottom of the fourth. Fouts ripped a one out double that would then score Katelyn Boman on error to tie the game 2-2. Three batters later Kennedy Moody ripped an RBI double down the left field line to put the Vikings back ahead 3-2. Erica Bennett then followed with an RBI single off the third baseman's glove to increase the lead to 5-2.Â
The Hawks got a run back in the top of the fifth but Sweat limited the damage getting a big fly out with two on to end the threat. The Vikings then got three walks to load the bases in the fifth with two down. Erica Bennett ran out an RBI single to make it 6-3. Rachel Runsick then forced an error to make it 7-3. The Vikings weren't done as Brooke Thompson delivered a two run single to center to increase the Vikings lead to 9-3.
The Vikings continue their season at home on Tuesday, March 17 as they take on Asbury in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 PM.
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