COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Berry College softball team (10-2) picked up two more big wins at the NFCA Lead-Off Classic as they took down the Denison University Big Red 9-0 in five innings before going on to shock the top ranked undefeated defending National Champion Trine University Thunder 6-4 on Saturday afternoon.
Game 1:
JJ Sweat (5-1) picked up her fifth win throwing a complete game 5 inning shutout while walking one and striking out 10.
Game 2:
Ava Fouts (3-1) picked up her third win throwing a complete game 7 innings allowing four runs on six hits while walking three and striking out five. Erica Bennett led the offense going 4-for-4 with two RBIs.
The game was scoreless until the top of the third when the Vikings broke through. The Vikings would take advantage of an error and then follow up with back to back singles with two outs to make it 1-0 on an RBI by Lauren Cothern. Two batters later Erica Bennett delivered a clutch two run single up the middle to increase the Vikings lead to 3-0. Fouts meanwhile put the first six Thunder down in order but ran into trouble in the third as the Thunder rallied to tie it 3-3.
The Thunder would then take their first lead in the bottom of the fifth as they made it 4-3. The Vikings didn't stay down for long as they rallied in the top of the sixth. Brooke Thompson forced an error to tie the game 4-4. Latifa Madesko and Katelyn Boman would then follow with a sac fly and an RBI groundout to put the Viking back ahead 6-4.
Fouts then shut down the Thunder working around a one out walk to keep them off the board in the sixth and then working around a one out double to get a flyout and a groundout to seal a historic upset win for Head Coach Meredith Mills and the Vikings.Â
The Vikings wrap up competition at the NFCA Lead-Off Classic on Sunday, March 8 as they take on Spalding and Bethel beginning at 1:30 PM.
