By Matthew D. Stokes
BerryVikings.com Staff Writer

ROME, Ga. – In a tail of two completely different games in one afternoon, Berry and LaGrange split a softball doubleheader at Berry's South Ford Field Sunday. The Vikings won the opener 8-0 before LaGrange answered with a 6-0 win the finale.

In the opener, Berry snapped its three-game losing streak behind timely hitting and Caillee Shamoun's stellar pitching.

The Vikings missed out on an early scoring opportunity when they failed to capitalize on a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the first inning. From the second inning on, though, Berry's bats came out in force, providing Shamoun with plenty of run support.

Berry batted around the order in the third inning, scoring more than once without even having to take the bat of their shoulder. After LaGrange left-hander Christy Flick nailed Lindsey Campbell with a pitch to load the bases, reliever Lacee Landrum drilled Holly Todd with her first pitch, forcing home Berry's third run. Three batters later, Landrum hit Sara Vigue with a pitch, bringing home another run. In all Berry plated five runs in that frame alone.

Meanwhile Shamoun hit the cruise control button, inducing ten groundball outs and retiring nine consecutive batters at one point.

Jessica Washington led off the fifth with a home run to right center, putting an end to the game due to the NCAA's run rule. That deep drive was Washington's second homer in as many games.

Shamoun (12-3) tossed a three-hit shutout, her fifth of the season. It was also her third straight start in the pitching circle in two days. Flick took the loss for LaGrange, surrendering five hits and five earned runs.

Washington's red hot hitting this week continued as she went a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs scored for Berry. Danielle Newbern, Kayla Folds, and Megan Wing each singled for LaGrange.

"Game one was an excellent showing by Caillee and our hitters," said Berry head coach Cori Thiermann. "Our batters did a great job of finding their pitch to hit and being selective."

The nightcap did not prove to be as friendly to Berry as LaGrange made its presence felt in a big way. A six-run second inning proved too much to overcome for the Vikings. Andrea Cole (5-6) labored through the first two innings, ultimately departing after one and two-thirds innings. She was charged with all six runs.

Shamoun pitched five and a third scoreless frames in relief of Cole, scattering five hits and striking out three. She finished the game working on a shutout streak of 11 and one-third innings.

LaGrange right-hander Kayla Folds spun a complete game shutout, permitting only two hits and striking out three.

Washington and Vigue each singled for Berry. Kelbi Burgering, Folds and Hanna Patterson each
recorded two hits for LaGrange.

"Game two was probably the first time this year that our bats fell asleep," Thiermann said. "I told the girls we didn't really make good adjustments."

With its eight-game homestand now complete, Berry will resume play in Winston-Salem, N.C., for a doubleheader against Salem on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

- BerryVikings.com -