COLUMBUS, Ga. - Needing two wins the Berry College softball team delivered as they shutout the Southwestern University Pirates 1-0 before going on to walk off the Rhodes College Lynx 6-5 on Friday evening to advance to the SAA Championship game.
Game 1:
JJ Sweat (12-4) picked up the win in her first start back from injury, tossing a complete game 7 inning shutout allowing just two hits while striking out 9. Kennedy Moody led the Vikings offense going 1-for-3 with an RBI.Â
It was a pitchers duel as the Vikings and Pirates squared off in an elimination game. The Pirates looked to open the scoring with a one out double in the bottom of the second but Sweat came up with back to back strikeouts to end the threat. Sweat would then put the Pirates down in order in the bottom of the third with two more strikeouts.
The Vikings would then break the deadlock in the top of the fourth as Elly Bennett singled and then stole second. Moody would then deliver with a clean RBI single up the middle to put the Vikings up 1-0. The Pirates looked to answer with two on and two outs in the bottom of the fourth but Sweat again got a strikeout to end the threat. Sweat would then retire the final six Pirates in order to secure the 1-0 win.
Game 2:
Megan Rapillo got the start and pitched 6 innings allowing five runs on nine hits while walking three. Ava Fouts (14-7) took the win in relief pitching the final three innings allowing just three hits while striking out two. Rachel Runsick led the offense going 1-for-2 with 3 RBIs.
Facing elimination once again the Vikings turned to Rapillo in the circle and she started strong, holding the Lynx scoreless through the first two innings. The Vikings offense also got going early on as Fouts led off the game with a double and later scored on a sac fly to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead. The Vikings would then add on in the bottom of the second as Runsick delivered a clutch two out two RBI single down the third base line to increase the Vikings lead to 3-0.
The Lynx rallied though as they got two runs in the top of the third to make it 3-2. The Vikings would answer back in the bottom of the fourth as they put runners on the corners with no outs for Fouts who delivered again with an RBI single to left center to make it 4-2. Runsick then delivered a sac fly to push the Vikings lead to 5-2. The Lynx didn't go down easily as they rallied in the top of the sixth to tie the game 5-5.
Both teams tried to generate the winning run in regulation but neither team were able to as the game headed to extra innings. The Vikings had a chance in the bottom of the eighth with a leadoff double but were unable to capitalize. The Lynx also got the leadoff runner on in the top of the ninth but Fouts quickly ended that threat. The Vikings then won it in the bottom of the ninth as Fouts raced home on an infield single that forced a throwing error to win the game.
The Vikings will need to beat the Trinity Tigers twice tomorrow to retain their crown with the first game at 12:00 PM on May 9 at South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, GA.
Â
