ROME, Ga. - Birmingham-Southern picked up two big home runs to defeat Berry 8-5 in the first game of a softball doubleheader, then won the second game 8-2 at South Ford Field Saturday.

In the opener, BSC's Ashley Bice belted a three-run homer and Brittany Berkopec connected for a grand slam to lead the Panthers. 

Berry held a 4-0 lead in the opener after scoring four times in the second inning, as Jessie Washington and Kristen Stoll delivered back-to-back two-run doubles. 

But Bice hit her homer in the third to pull the Panthers to within one run, and Berkopec's grand slam and a sacrifice fly by Melissa Revis in the fifth put BSC ahead for good.

The Vikings would threaten in the bottm of the seventh, when Katie Stanford delivered an RBI single that scored Chelsea Usher to make the score 8-5.  An infield single by Blaze Wilson would bring the tying run to the plate, but BSC pitcher Ronni Ferris would get the next batter to pop out to end the ballgame.

Ferris (14-6) earned the victory in a complete game effort.  She allowed four earned runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out eight batters.

Berry hurler Caillee Shamoun (13-9) allowed seven earned runs on seven hits and two walks in seven innings.  She fanned three batters.

Stoll, Wilson and Lacey Herring each had two hits in the opener for Berry.

Revis and Danielle Rucker collected two hits apiece for BSC in the first game.

In the second game, Birmingham-Southern scored five runs in the fourth inning to take command of the game.

Usher was 3-for-3 with a run scored, and Stoll and Sara Vigue were each 2-for-3 in the finale.  Katie Stanford and Lindsey Campbell drove in the Vikings' two runs.

Ferris, Bice, Berkopec and Emily Merrit each had two hits for the Panthers.  Bekopec drove in three runs.

Beth Lefler (11-3) earned the victory, allowing two runs (one earned) on nine hits.  Berry's Andrea Cole (7-7) took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits in four innings.

The games marked the final appearance at South Ford Field as a member of the Vikings for Berry senior rightfielder Blaze Wilson.  She was honored before the first game, and will become the first player in the history of Berry's two-year softball program to graduate later this year.

Berry will close its season Wednesday evening at Piedmont.

- BerryVikings.com -