DEMOREST, Ga. - The Berry College softball team swept the Piedmont University Lions as they won 11-3 in run rule fashion and then took game two in a 6-4 comeback victory on Wednesday afternoon on the road.
Game 1:
Ava Fouts (11-5) picked up the win throwing a complete game 5 innings allowing three runs on ten hits while walking two and striking out two. Kennedy Moody led the offense going 2-for-3 with 5 RBI.
The Vikings jumped on top early as Moody ripped a one out two run single to put the Vikings ahead 2-0 in the top of the first. Two more singles followed as Avery Greeson delivered to increase the lead to 3-0. The Vikings then blew the game up in the top of the second as Moody came through again this time with the bases loaded and two down to make it 5-0. Erica Bennett then ripped a two run double to increase the lead to 7-0. Greeson then got her second hit in two innings with an RBI double to give the Vikings a commanding 8-0 lead.
The Lions struck back in the bottom of the second to make it 8-1. The Vikings weren't done either as they put two on with two down for Elly Bennet who delivered an RBI single to stretch the lead to 9-1. Moody then forced an error to make it 10-1. The Lions pulled a run back in the bottom of the fourth to make it 10-2 but the Vikings stretched their lead back out to nine with a sac fly by Ryan Henderson to make it 11-2. The Lions would add another run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 11-3 but that's all Fouts would allow as the Vikings sealed an impressive run rule win.
Game 2:
Megan Rapillo pitched her first career complete game win, throwing 112 pitches in 7 innings with 16 fly outs and 3 ground outs.
The first inning left the Vikings trailing by two runs, which was left unanswered until the 3rd inning when Ava Fouts singled to left center followed by Lauren Cothern reaching first on an error, which turned into Ava Fouts scoring an unearned run making the score 2-1 with the Vikings hoping to turn the tide of the game.
Unfortunately in the bottom of the 3rd, the Lions were able to reestablish their two run lead by scoring once again making the score 3-1 in favor of the Lions. The momentum for the Lions would continue to show in the bottom of the 6th as they picked up another run giving them the real estate of a three run lead, which would have seemed to be enough to seal victory.
However in the top of the 7th inning, Fouts singled to left-field, which advanced Madison Miller to 2nd base. This was followed by Cothern doubling to center field resulting in 2 RBI's with Fouts and Miller scoring, bringing the score to a close 4-3 still in favor of the Lions. A single for Kennedy Moody resulted in an RBI with Haylee Dishmon scoring the tying run making the score an even 4-4. Moody advanced to second which was followed by Elly Bennett singling to shortstop for an RBI, bringing Moody home to give the Vikings the first lead that they had all game at 5-4. The Vikings then added to their lead as Erica Bennett doubled to right center for an RBI with Elly Bennett scoring to make the score 6-4 in favor of the Vikings to close out their offensive efforts of the game.
The Vikings were able to withstand one last push coming from the Lions in the bottom of the 7th, resulting in the Vikings 3rd victory in a row.
Wonderful offensive efforts coming from Ava Fouts with 2 hits, Lauren Cothern with 1, Kennedy Moody with 1, Elly Bennett with 3, Erica Bennett with 2, and Junior, Katelyn Boman with 1.
The Vikings next take on the Sewanee Tigers in a double-header on Saturday, April 25, with game 1 starting at 1PM and game 2 starting at 3PM, while also celebrating their Senior Day.Â
