ROME, Ga. - Berry scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and had the potential tying and winning runs in scoring position, but a diving catch by LaGrange rightfielder Jessica Quesada ended the rally and the ballgame as the Panthers defeated the Vikings 6-5 in the opening game of a doubleheader at South Ford Field Saturday.

LaGrange completed the sweep with a 3-1 win the second contest.

Berry entered the bottom of the seventh inning of the first game  trailing 6-2, but back-to-back singles by Jessie Washington and Sara Vigue to open the inning and a base on balls from Kristen Stoll loaded the bases.  The next batter, Lacey Herring, was hit by a pitch, scoring Washington. 

Chelsea Usher followed with a double to deep centerfield, plating Vigue and Stoll to pull Berry to within one run with runners on second and third bases.  But LaGrange would bring in relief pitcher Danielle LaDuron, who retired the first two batters she faced before pinch hitter Katie Stanford, who homered the previous day, came to the plate.  Stanford fouled off several pitches, including a pair that left the yard but just missed being fair, before drawing a walk to load the bases. 

Berry coach Cori Thiermann sent another pinch hitter to the plate to follow Stanford, and Hailley Oxner made LaDuron throw several pitches again.  Finally Oxner connected on a drive to right-centerfield, but the ball hung in the air just long enough to give Quesada enough time to dash over from her position in right and make an athletic, diving catch to preserve the win.

Lost in the hoopla of Berry's late heroics and Quesada's brilliant catch was Washington's 4-for-4 performance at the plate.  Among Washington's four hits was a double, and she also drove in a run and scored twice. 

She and Vigue, who was 3-for-4 with a run, collected seven of the Vikings' nine hits in the game.  Stoll and Usher had the others.

Shanna Brumbelow was 3-for-4 for the Panthers.

Kayla Folds earned the win, allowing three runs in three innings of work.  LaDuron was credited with a save.

Berry hurler Caillee Shamoun allowed six runs (five earned) in seven innings. 

In the nightcap, the Vikings scored a run on Herring's sacrifice fly that scored Washington in the first inning, and it looked like that score would stick.

But LaGrange tied the score in the sixth on Laura Webber's RBI single, and then scored twice in the seventh when Brumbelow singled through the left side of the infield to take a 3-1 lead.  The Vikings were unable to answer in the bottom of the inning as LaGrange pulled off the sweep.

Stoll led Berry at the plate in the second game, going 3-for-3 with a double.  She and LaGrange's Courtney Beshel, who was 2-for-4, were the lone players with multiple hits in the game.

LaGrange reliever Amanda Stukel earned the victory with a pair of shutout innings.  Berry's Andrea Cole took the loss, allowing three runs in a complete game effort.

Berry is scheduled to return to action Wednesday, when it travels to Young Harris for its final scheduled road doubleheader of the season.  First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

- BerryVikings.com -