ATLANTA – Freshman Kassie Howard pitched Berry College to 2 wins--both in relief--on Saturday as the Vikings advanced to Sunday's Atlanta Region final of the NCAA Championships.

Berry will face Emory and will need to win twice on Sunday to move to next weekend's Super Regionals. The Eagles need to just win the 12 p.m. game.

The Vikings (34-7) defeated LaGrange, 10-2. BC then avenged yesterday's loss with a 3-1 win over Averett.

"What an awesome day; it was total team effort," said Berry Head Coach Cori Thiermann. "We had clutch hits, great pitching and played with great energy."

In the first game against LaGrange, Berry's offense came alive with 13 hits as the Vikings defeated the Panthers, 10-2. BC broke open a 2-2 game with 8 runs in the final 2 frames.

Brittany Ferrell led off the game with a walk. She moved to second base on a ground out and later advanced to third on a passed ball. Kyle Aiken then singled to left field for the 2-out run.

The Vikings played small-ball in the third inning to plate a run. Ally Claytor beat out a single to third base. She then stole second and advanced to third base on a fly-out. Brittany Tuttle (3-of-3, 3 RBI) then beat out an infield single that scored Claytor.

In the bottom of the frame, the Panthers rallied. LaGrange hit 3 straight singles and Allie Coronado walked in their first run. An LC sacrifice fly tied the game at 2-2.

Howard then entered in relief for Berry.  She struck out Alison Liles with the bases loaded to end the threat. Howard struck out 8 batters in her 3 1/3 innings.

The Berry offense then exploded for 6 runs in the sixth inning. BC sent 10 batters to hit in the inning. Marie Collop had an RBI double to start the rally.

In the seventh inning, freshman Maggie Piety laced a 2-run home run to left field for the final Berry runs.

Claytor and Kylie Aiken both had 2 hits for Berry. Kalin Oglesby had two of LaGrange's 5 hits and scored once to lead the Panthers.

Kayla Davis came to pitch and close the game. Olivia Wolfe took the loss for LaGrange (25-16).

The Vikings then faced a rematch with Averett. Berry scored first in the top of the second inning after Collop scored on sacrifice fly by Claytor.

Averett tied the game in the 4^th inning. Mary Beth Smith singled and scored on a 2-out single by Rhyan Scearce.

In the top of the fifth inning, BC got 2 runners on base and Jessica Griffin had to be replaced after she fell in the pitching circle. The Vikes then loaded the bases. Aiken drew a walk, which scored pinch-runner Shakarah Boswell.

Berry tacked on an insurance run in the top of seventh when Ferrell came on a sacrifice fly by Aiken.

Tuttle and Moore both had 2 hits in the game for Berry, which out-hit the Cougars, 11-7.

Howard was near perfect for BC. She allowed no hits against the Cougars in 3 innings. She is now 20-2 on the year.

Emily Dunford collected 2 of AU's 7 hits. Averett ends its year with a 35-4-1 record.

See Saturday's video HERE