By Matthew D. Stokes, BerryVikings.com Lead Writer

ROME, Ga. –Berry's baseball team used a seven-run second inning to propel itself to a series-clinching win, 12-7, against Southern Athletic Association opponent Millsaps on Sunday.

Berry upped its overall record to 10-9 and 7-2 in SAA matchups. Millsaps fell to 12-5 and 4-2. The Vikings took two of the three games in the weekend series.

After Millsaps scored on a two-out error by Berry third baseman Zach Farmer in the first, Berry tied the game on Will Heard's bases-loaded hit by pitch in the second. After Grant Perkins reached on a fielder's choice to pitcher, Berry proceeded to score six two-out runs.

Dusty Tyson drove in the tiebreaking run after Nathan Harrell (2-1) plunked him with the bases loaded. Harrell left the game after hitting Tyson and pitched one and two-third innings and allowed five runs (all earned). Austin Neely welcomed reliever Daniel Ross with a line drive off the pitcher's foot, driving in two runs on that single. Stephen Gaylor followed with a two-run base hit of his own up the middle. Farmer capped the scoring with RBI double to right-center, making it 7-1.

Right-hander Chad Busby (2-0) worked out of a two-out, two-on jam in the fifth to close out his outing on the mound for Berry. He threw five innings of two-run ball and struck out three.

With the score at 8-3 in Berry's favor, Millsaps closed the gap with a four-run eighth. Consecutive run-scoring doubles by Wes Perkins and Samuel Doucet narrowed Berry's edge. Three batters later, pinch hitter Andrew ripped a first-pitch two-run home run off Ben Jernigan to deep right, making it a three-run game.

Berry tacked on three runs in the bottom half, giving itself some breathing room. Christian Champion worked around three hits and a run to close out the game for Berry.

The Vikings were led on offense by Gaylor and Alex McGill. Gaylor had three runs, two hits and two RBIs, and McGill had two doubles and runs scored. For the Majors, Keith Shumaker picked up three runs and two hits, including a solo home run in third, and Perkins notched three hits and two RBIs. 

"We really made a lot of adjustments today at the plate, our pitchers did a great job and, to be honest with you, the guys came out and played like we knew they would and we won," said Berry Head Coach David Beasley.

Berry returns to William R. Bowdoin Field on Tuesday evening against Covenant College. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.