Rome, Ga. - Berry received strong starting pitching performances from Scott Pollock and Cameron Rich en route to a doubleheader sweep of Virginia-wise saturday at William R. Bowdoin Field. The Vikings won by scores of 5-2 and 5-1.
Pollock allowed just one run on two hits in six innings of work in the opener. He also struck out four batters.
Pollock's pitching performance helped the Vikings offset a rough offensive outing in which they mustered just three hits.
But Berry would manufacture four runs in the fourth inning of the opener, thanks in part to a pair of Cavaliers errors. Cason Dremann and Madison Moss drew back-to-back walks to lead off the inning, and advanced 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt by Isaac Hardee. After Preston Neely reached on an error to load the bases, Travis Blackburn delivered a two-run single that plated Dremann and Moss. After a double steal by Neely and Blackburn, Drew McDuffie's fielder's choice ground ball was misplayed allowing Blackburn to score just after Neely crossed on the batted ball.
Both teams would score a run in the sixth. The Cavaliers picked up their run on Kirk Jennings' sacrifice fly. Berry answered in the bottom of the inning with its own sacrifice fly off Preston Neely's bat.
UVA-Wise would score one run in the top of the seventh, but it was not enough.
Pollock (1-0) struck out four batters and walked three. Trent Hillis pitched the seventh inning, allowing one unearned run.
Cavaliers starter Scott Cole (0-2) took the loss. He allowed four runs (two earned) on two hits and three walks while striking out four batters.
In the second game, the Cavs would jump out to a 1-0 lead on Tommy Meier's RBI single. But Berry would answer with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, scoring twice in the third despite not getting a hit as Virginia-Wise committed five errors in the frame.
Two more Berry runs would score in the fourth on Brandyn Jackson's RBI ground ball and a sacrifice fly from Austin Neely. Another run would cross in the bottom of the fifth on Hardee's RBI fielder's choice ground ball, giving the Vikings a 5-1 advantage.
McDuffie's two hits and Jackson's two RBIs led the Vikings.
Berry starter Cameron Rich (2-1) earned the win. In five innings, Rich allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out two batters.
Josh Dilbeck pitched the final two innings, striking out four batters in the process.
UVA-Wise starter Ryan Crosby (0-1) took the loss after allowing four runs in 3 1/3 innings. Just one of the runs charged to Crosby was earned.
The Vikings return to action Feb. 22, when they host Covenant at 4 p.m.
- BerryVikings.com -