By Matthew D. Stokes, BerryVikings.com Lead Writer

ROME, Ga. – Berry lost both ends of a Friday afternoon doubleheader against Piedmont at Ford Field in the season opener for both teams.  Piedmont took the opener, 3-2, in spite of Lacey Herring's 3-for-3 performance for Berry, and used a late rally to claim the second game, 6-4.

In game one, after playing scoreless ball for the first three innings, Piedmont plated three runs in the top of the fourth. 

Following two singles and a passed ball, Kristin Hamby drove a Caillee Shamoun (0-1) pitch to deep center.  Holly Todd raced back and could not make the catch, allowing two runs to score.  Two batters later Lauren Head singled through the left side of the infield for a RBI, capping the scoring for Piedmont.

Berry responded with a run of its own in the bottom half.  Herring ripped a two-out double off the base of the fence in left-center, and Shelby Smith proceeded to bring her home with an infield single to second.

In the bottom of the sixth, Herring lined a RBI single to right, bringing Jessie Washington home and Berry within a run of Piedmont.  In Berry's final at-bat of the game, Courtney Hodges drilled a line shot to left field that Hamby caught near the fence in left, giving Piedmont the victory.

Shamoun took the loss for Berry, tossing a complete game and allowing seven hits and three earned runs.  Brittney Head (1-0) earned the win in the pitching circle for Piedmont, also going the distance after allowing five hits and two earned runs.

Herring had three of Berry's five base hits, including a double, and Smith recorded her first career hit and an RBI.  Hamby paced Piedmont with two hits and two RBIs.

In the nightcap, Berry held a 3-1 lead heading into the top of the seventh behind the pitching of Allison Coronado (0-1).  Needing three outs to secure the win, Coronado retired Hamby to open the frame before Piedmont rallied.

With one out and runners on first and second, Jordan Ellingson stepped into a Coronado pitch and stroked a three-run home run that put Piedmont up, 4-3.  With Coronado now out of the game, Olivia Duncan added a two-run single off Shamoun to cap the five-run seventh. 

Berry scored a run in the bottom half, but Ellingson (1-0) retired Kristen Stoll on a foulout to left with two runners on to end the game.

Coronado was saddled with the loss for Berry, surrendering five hits, six earned runs and three walks.  Ellingson earned the complete-game victory for Piedmont, throwing seven innings and giving up nine hits and four earned runs. 

Abbey Daniels finished the nightcap 3-for-3 with two RBIs, and Herring went 2-for-2 with a run for Berry.  Ellingson had three RBIs, and Duncan drove in two runs.

"I thought the second game was a little bit better with our bats," said Berry Head Coach Cori Thiermann, "but we just need to put it together.  Our freshmen came up second game with some better at-bats than in the first game."

Berry will return to action on Sunday with a doubleheader against Maryville College.  First pitch will be 1 p.m.