Box Score COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Berry College softball team dropped their SAA Championships opener 7-4 to the Trinity University Tigers on Thursday evening in Columbus.

Ava Fouts took the loss pitching a complete game allowing seven runs, five earned on nine hits while walking six. Fouts and Elly Bennett led the Vikings offense with 2 RBI each. 

The Vikings jumped on top early as they started the game with three straight singles before Elly Bennett worked a bases loaded one out walk to put the Vikings up 1-0. That lead didn't last long as the Tigers responded with a four spot in the bottom of the second to take a 4-1 lead. The Tigers would then tack on one more in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 5-1.

The Vikings would find an answer in the top of the fourth as Ava Fouts ripped a two out two run double to left field to pull the Vikings within 5-3. The Vikings tried to hold the Tigers offense at bay but they would add on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth as the Vikings trailed 7-3. The Vikings didn't give up as they rallied in the top of the seventh with two down. The Vikings got a single and a walk and then Elly Bennett came through with an RBI single to center to make it 7-4, but that's all the Vikings could get as they dropped their first game of the tournament.

The Vikings will look to stay alive as they take on third seeded Southwestern in an elimination game on Friday, May 8 at 3:30 PM ET in Columbus, GA.