By MacKenzie Tuttle, Digital Content Supervisor

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Rhodes hit a walk-off home run in the second game to upend the Berry College softball team on Friday, as the Vikings split with the Lynx in a Southern Athletic Association (SAA) doubleheader. Berry bested Rhodes 7-0 in the first contest before the Lynx earned the come-behind 3-2 victory in game two.

The Vikings are now 24-4 overall on the season, as well as 9-1 in the SAA, dropping their first game since March 3. Rhodes sits at 17-9 and 5-6.

GAME ONE RECAP:

• Berry opened up scoring in the top of the first inning, as Elisabeth Federici reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Brittany Tuttle and move the score to 1-0.
• The Vikings then added two additional runs in the top of the third inning, following RBI singles from Kylie Aiken and Bayleigh Masterson to expand the lead to 3-0.
• Kayla Sangrey and Federici then each homered in the top of the fourth and sixth innings, respectively, pushing the lead to 5-0 with just one inning to play.
• Two additional RBI singles in the top of the seventh then ensured Berry's 7-0 victory.
• Kassie Howard (15-1) earned the win in the circle for Berry, tossing six innings, while allowing just three hits and no runs, striking out seven Lynx.

GAME TWO RECAP:

• Berry scored the first run of the game in the second contest as well, as Masterson added a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Madison Morgan and push the score to 1-0.
• Rhodes' Caroline Reilly singled down the left field line in the bottom of the fourth inning, bringing home Peyton Clark to tie the game at 1-1.
• The Lynx then added an additional RBI ground out in the bottom of the next inning, taking their first 2-1 lead of the game.
• Aiken doubled in the bottom of the seventh though, bringing home Tuttle to tie the game back at 2-2.
• Rhodes' Kristen Samuels homered in the bottom of the eighth inning, walking off the game with the 3-2 victory.
• Makenzie Flynt (4-2) took the loss in the circle, tossing 7.1 innings, while allowing three hits and three runs, striking out six Lynx.

BERRY STANDOUTS:

• Brittany Tuttle: 3-for-8, 3 R, BB, 2 SB, 3B
• Kylie Aiken: 3-for-8, 2 R, 3 RBIs, 2B
• Elisabeth Federici: 3-for-8, R, 3 RBIs, HR
• Kayla Sangrey: 3-for-4, R, RBI, HR
• Shelby Daniel: 3-for-8, 2 2b

RHODES STANDOUTS:

• Peyton Clark: 2-for-7, R, BB, 2B
• Kirsten Samuels: 1-for-6, R, RBI, HR
• Caroline Reilly: 1-for-4, RBI
• Kendall Hardy: 2-for-6

NOTABLES:

• The narrow loss to Rhodes was Berry's first conference defeat since March 26th, 2016, over two years ago. 

UP NEXT:

Berry will faceoff against Rhodes in game three of the series tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.