DANVILLE, KY – The Vikings took on Centre College in a doubleheader to begin their three-game series, as the Vikings demolished Centre by final scores of...
Game One (Berry 7 – Centre 8)
Despite Ava Fouts reaching on a walk and sneaking to third base in the top of the first, the Vikings left her on base to keep the game scoreless. After picking up her first strikeout, Fouts faced some adversity, as she allowed three straight baserunners which led to a 1-0 Centre lead heading into the top of the second.
Two straight free passes with one away in the top of the second set up what looked to be an opportunistic inning. The Viking offense sputtered once again to head into the bottom of the second inning though.
With nobody out, Latifa Madesko swooped under a sharply hit ground ball and sent it over to first base to grab the first out of the inning. The Vikings rallied behind Fouts to get out of the bottom of the second unscathed.
Some great pieces of hitting from Cothern and Kennedy Moody plated the first run of the game for the Vikings at the top of the third. Centre would respond with two runs though, as they took a 3-1 lead into the fourth frame.
The Vikings responded in a big spot in the top of the fourth as Brooke Thompson found her way home off a fielder's choice by Centre to cut the Centre lead to 3-2. The Vikings then were able to produce an empty frame from the Colonels to keep it a 3-2 game heading into the fifth.
An empty slot from the Vikings led to what looked like a disastrous 2-run inning from the Colonels at the bottom of the fifth to give them a 5-2 lead heading into the home stretch.
The Vikings did not waiver though, as Cothern and Moody each got on base to lead off the comeback. A Rachel Runsick rocket through center field scored Lauren Cothern to make in a 2-run deficit. A walk from Erica Bennett loaded the bags for the Vikings, as Latifa Madesko stepped into the batter's box.
The senior from Atlanta eyed down a Colonel pitch and punished it into right center field, scoring two runs to tie the game.
Ava Fouts was able to sit down three straight Colonels to set up a big seventh inning of play.
With two runners on at the top of the seventh, Kennedy Moody drilled a ball out to center field to allow Fouts to come home, as the Vikings took their first lead 6-5. Following that, Avery Greeson stepped to the plate and a terrific plate appearance from her led to a passed ball which walked her and scored Kensi Ody from third base to make it a 7-5 lead for the Vikings.
With two outs, the Colonels did not blink. Just one out away from a comeback, the Vikings were unable to close out the comeback, as Centre plated two to walk-off in game one in a thriller by a final score of 8-7.
Game Two (Berry 4, Centre 5)
With a leadoff single from Fouts and a Cothern single, Rachel Runsick delivered a powerful chopper through the left field side to drive in Fouts and give Berry a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first.
With Megan Rapillo in the circle, the Vikings gave up two two-out runs, as Centre bought last game's momentum into game two. A diving play from play at second base from Katelyn Boman saved the Vikings and sent the game into the top of the second.
Both teams would stall in the second inning, but the Vikings answered the bell in the third, as a lead-off double from Lauren Cothern got the Vikings going. Moody followed up with a single of her own, with Cothern advancing to third base. A wild pitch from the Colonels scored Cothern to tie the game at 2. Rachel Runsick picked up an RBI to score Moody and give the Vikings a 3-2 lead. Centre quickly responded with a crucial 3-run frame to take a 5-3 lead into the fourth.
The two teams quieted down in the 4th, before the fireworks resumed in the fifth. With Moody and Runsick on base once again, Erica Bennett delivered a sac fly to make it a one-run deficit for the Vikings as the game winded into the bottom of the fifth inning.
In need of a scoreless inning, Megan Rapillo stepped up in the circle, knocking 3 up and 3 down, closing out the bottom of the fifth in style with a backwards K.
Despite valiant efforts in the sixth and seventh, the Vikings were unable to turn the tables, falling 5-4 in fgame two.
The Vikings will take on the Colonels in game three tomorrow at noon.
