ROME, Ga. - Berry's Cory Pitts went 3-for-4 and scored twice, but Covenant defeated the Vikings 10-4 at William R. Bowdoin Field Tuesday evening.

Covenant (13-6) scored the game's first five runs, putting four on the board in the top of the first inning and adding a fifth in the top of the second, and Berry would not be able to mount a comeback.

The Vikings (12-10) did pick up a run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly from Preston Neely, and, after Covenant went ahead 6-1 in the top of the fifth, Thomas Johnson gave Berry a second run with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning.

Covenant would go ahead 7-2 in the seventh before the Vikes would pull to within 7-4 after the stretch. 

Neely started the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle and Pitts followed with a line drive into the gap in right-centerfield that moved Neely to third.  Covenant centerfielder Harrison Fisher's throw to his cutoff man was wild, allowing Neely to score, and when Pitts dashed to third on that error, the throw from the Covenant infielder attempting to nab Pitts at the bag flew over the third baseman's head, allowing Pitts to scamper home.

Berry would be unable to muster anymore offense, and Covenant would claim the win.

Cason Dremman was 2-for-4 for the Berry, which collected eight hits in the game.

Covenant racked up 15 hits against three Berry hurlers, including a 3-for-5 performance from Fisher, who also scored three times and drove in a run.  The top four batters in Covenant's batting order combined to go 9-for-20 and score seven runs.

Scots' starter Sterling Witt earned the victory.  He allowed two runs on six hits and two walks in six innings.  He struck out two batters.

Berry starter Casey Gray (3-2) took the loss. Gray allowed seven runs (five earned) on 11 hits.  He fanned four batters and did not issue a walk in 6 2/3 innings of work.

Jon Stump allowed two runs in 2/3 of an inning and Trent Hillis gave up one run in 1 2/3 innings of work.

The Vikings are scheduled to return to action Friday afternoon, when they host a doublehader against Tennessee Temple at 2 p.m.

Note:  Berry's upcoming schedule against Tennessee Temple has changed.  Berry will host a doubleheader Friday at 2 p.m., and travel to Chattanooga Saturday for a single game at 1 p.m.  After hosting Birmingham-Southern March 29 at 6 p.m., the Vikings will host a twin bill against Tennessee Temple April 1 at 2 p.m.  On April 2, Berry will go on the road to play Tennessee Temple in a single game at 1 p.m.

- BerryVikings.com -