ATLANTA -- Averett University broke open a tie game with 3 runs in the sixth inning en route to defeating Berry College, 4-1, in the NCAA Division III Softball Championships on Friday.

Berry--which had its 13-game winning streak snapped--moved to 32-7. AU improved to 35-3-1.

The Vikings had 6 hits to the Cougars' 5. Brittany Ferrell and Rachel Bartoe led the BC offense with 2 hits apiece. Elisabeth Federici had a double--Berry's lone extra base hit--as a pinch-hitter in the sixth.

Both clubs tacked on a run in the second inning. Averett's Jessica Crews (2-2) opened the frame with a single. She later was brought home on a double by Rhyan Scearce.

In Berry's home half of the inning, Sarah Brown reached an error. She was pushed into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Allison DeBusk. Bartoe then laced a line drive to centerfield to score Brown for the Vikings' lone run.

Berry starting pitcher Kassie Howard had 7 strikeouts and allowed just 2 hits through five innings. Averett, however, plated 3 runs on 3 hits in the sixth for the decisive margin. Howard fell to 18-2 on the year and allowed 5 hits in the contest.

The Vikings had the tying run on deck in their final 2 at-bats, but they could not push over another run. Berry left 8 runners on base in the game.

"We got our first NCAA game under our belt, which is good," said Berry Head Coach Cori Thiermann. "We hit the ball hard, but some breaks just did not go our way. I expect us to come out tomorrow with no jitters and play Berry softball."

Mary Beth Smith (19-3) pitched 7 innings, allowed no earned runs and struck out 5 Berry batters.

The Vikings face LaGrange at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in an Atlanta Regional elimination game.

See Friday's video HERE