By MacKenzie Tuttle, Digital Content Supervisor

ROME, Ga. – The game saw four lead changes and four home runs, as the Berry College softball team held on to defeat Hendrix College on Saturday afternoon.

The win was the 23rd of the year for the Vikings, as well as their eighth straight conference victory, as Berry improved to 23-3 overall, as well as 8-0 in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA).

On the day, Berry combined for 18 hits, while Hendrix finished with eight, and the Vikings had four errors to the Warriors' two.

Hendrix scored first in the contest, as Bryanna Carlisle scored on a wild pitch in the top of the first inning to give the Warriors their first 1-0 lead. The Vikings answered in the bottom of the same inning though, as Bayleigh Masterson homered to left center to give Berry a 2-1 lead. Shelby Daniel then added an RBI groundout in the same inning to expand the lead to 3-1.

Kylie Aiken and Elisabeth Federici then each added RBIs in the bottom of the second inning, pushing Berry's lead to 5-1 before Hendrix would cross the plate again. The Warriors' Taylor Oglesby and Nikki Sanders each added homers in the top of the third inning to regain a 6-5 lead. Hendrix would never lead again though.

The Vikings bounced back with four additional runs in the bottom of the third, to regain a 9-6 lead. Berry then added at least one run in each of their final three plate appearances, and Hendrix plated one more run in the top of the sixth, but the Vikings held on to run-rule the Warriors 15-7 on the day. 

Kassie Howard (17-1) earned the win in the circle for Berry, tossing five innings, while allowing five hits and two earned runs and striking out ten Warriors. Federici led all batters in the contest, finishing the day 4-for-4 at the plate, with three RBIs and two runs. Brittany Tuttle and Makayley Cain each added three hits for Berry in the outing as well.

BERRY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS:

• Elisabeth Federici: 4-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBIs, 2B, SB
• Brittany Tuttle: 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 SB
• Makayley Cain: 3-for-4, RBI
• Bayleigh Masterson: 2-for-3, 4 R, 2 RBIs, 2B, HR
• Lauren Evans: 1-for-1, R, 2 RBIs, HR

HENDRIX STATISTICAL STANDOUTS:

• Laura Mortan: 2-for-3, 2B
• Nikki Sanders: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBIs, HR
• Bryanna Carlisle: 1-for-3, 3 R
• Taylor Oglesby: 1-for-3, R, 3 RBIs, HR

UP NEXT:

Berry will travel to Memphis, Tenn., to take on Rhodes College in their next SAA series beginning on Friday, March 30 at 1:00 p.m.