By Matthew D. Stokes
BerryVikings.com Staff Writer

ROME, Ga. – Berry's softball team reached the 20-win mark for the second consecutive season, earning a 5-4 win over Birmingham-Southern in the opening game of a doubleheader at South Ford Field Saturday. BSC won the second game 6-5.

In the early game Berry's batters staked right-hander Caillee Shamoun to an early lead, striking first on Katie Stanford's solo home run in the second inning. They followed that with one run in each of the next three innings, with Krista Woody, Jessica Washington and Courtney Hodges driving in a run apiece.

Birmingham-Southern's offense started to catch up to Shamoun's pitches in the fifth and sixth, plating three to draw the Panthers to within one run at 4-3. With two runners on base and two outs, Shamoun averted further damage by inducing a Joana Jernigan foulout to escape a sixth-inning jam.

Nursing a one-run lead, Shamoun appeared to be on her way to a 4-3 complete game victory when Taylor Bassett ripped a two-out game-tying RBI double to right center to score Brittany Berkopec from first.

But Berry (20-9) maintained its composure, overcoming that seventh-inning Panther rally to push across the game-winning run on Stanford's two-out RBI single to shallow center to score Lacey Herring.

"Wow. That was great," said Berry head coach Cori Thiermann of Stanford's hit. "I kind of had that feeling that she was going to come up with that big hit."

Shamoun (14-3) did end up with the complete game, allowing 12 hits and four earned runs.

Birmingham-Southern's Bethany Fronk (10-1), who began the opener as her team's centerfielder and leadoff hitter, took the loss after tossing two and a third innings in relief of starter Ronni Ferris. Fronk surrendered five hits and one earned run.

"Caillee did a great job," Thiermann said. "We'd like to see a little bit more control of the changeup tomorrow, though."

Herring smashed two hits, both doubles, for Berry and was joined by Stanford, Kristen Stoll and Woody in the multi-hit category. Bassett had three base hits, including the Panthers' lone extra-base hit, while Berkopec and Ferris both had two singles.

In game two it was a reversal of roles as Birmingham-Southern touched up Berry's pitching first.

Three Berry errors proved to be costly in the third as four unearned runs crossed the plate, putting Berry and right-hander Andrea Cole behind 4-0.

Berry's offense struck back with four runs of its own in the fourth, the last of which came on Holly Todd's game-tying sacrifice fly. During that frame, Berry forced Panthers' starter Fronk from the pitching circle after a misplayed grounder to short allowed the second run to score.

Fronk made it through three and a third innings and was charged with allowing four hits and four  runs (three earned).

Cole lasted four innings and allowed three hits and four unearned runs to settle for a no-decision.

Shamoun relieved Cole and gave up two runs in the fifth, just enough breathing room for Birmingham-Southern to eek out the win.

Before recording the final out, the Panthers faced some serious heat from Berry's hitters.

Protecting a one-run lead and facing a bases-loaded, two-out squeeze, Ferris wiggled her way out of a pickle by striking out Denice Aleman to end the game.

Shamoun (14-4) picked up another decision for Berry, twirling three one-hit innings but allowed the deciding runs.

"We just had a little bit too many errors," said Thiermann of Berry's five errors. "Birmingham-Southern's an awesome team, and if we can compete with them right now with five errors, then we're looking for a good year next season."

Beth Lefler (5-1) earned the win in relief, working through two and two-thirds innings of one-run ball. Ferris picked up her third save of the season in one inning of work.

Hodges mashed her first collegiate home run, a solo shot, in the sixth as part of a perfect 2-for-2 day at the plate for Berry. Washington and Sara Vigue also recorded two hits. Ashley Bice and Bassett both scored two runs for Birmingham-Southern.

Berry will resume play with a doubleheader against Maryville Sunday afternoon at home. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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