By MacKenzie Tuttle, Digital Content Supervisor

DANVILLE, Ky. – The Berry College softball team defeated Centre College twice on Friday, earning 15-0 and 8-0 victories over the Colonels, after combining for 22 hits in the two contests.

With the wins, the Vikings improve to 32-4 overall on the year, as well as 15-1 in Southern Athletic Association (SAA) competition. Centre falls to 17-15 and 9-8.

GAME ONE RECAP:

• The first portion of the game proved to be a pitching duel, as neither team found a way to cross the plate until the top of the fifth inning.
• Bayleigh Masterson then opened up scoring for Berry, hitting a three-run homer to give the Vikings' their first lead of the contest.
• Elisabeth Federici added an additional homerun in the next at-bat, expanding the Vikings' lead to 4-0 
• A two-RBI single from Brooke Whittemore, as well as an RBI groundout by Brittany Tuttle, in the top of the sixth inning pushed the lead to 6-0.
• Three RBI singles, two Colonel errors and a sacrifice fly then plated eight runs in the top of the eighth inning, ensuring berry's 15-0 victory.
• Kassie Howard (20-1) earned the win in the circle for Berry, allowing just one hit in her seven innings of work, while striking out nine batters.

GAME TWO RECAP:

• The Vikings jumped out to an early lead in the nightcap, as Whittemore homered in the top of the first inning to bring home Brittany Tuttle and give the Vikings a 2-0 lead.
• Berry then remained ahead just 2-0 until the top of the fifth inning, when four RBI singles, as well as one bases loaded walk, plated six runs to ensure the run-rule 8-0 victory.
• Makenzie Flynt (6-2) earned the complete-game win on the rubber for Berry, as she allowed just three hits and no runs in her five innings of work.
• Tuttle and Whittemore led Berry at the plate in the outing, adding two hits and two runs apiece in the win.

BERRY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS:

• Brooke Whittemore: 4-for-6, 4 R, 3 RBIs, SB, HR
• Katlin Seger: 5-for-8, 3 R, 2 RBIs
• Brittany Tuttle: 3-for-8, 3 RBIs, 2 R, 2 SB
• Bayleigh Masterson: 1-for-6, R, 3 RBIs, HR
• Elisabeth Federici: 3-for-6, 3 R, RBI, HR, 2B
• Shelby Daniel: 2-for-7, 2 R, RBI

CENTRE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS:

• Melissa Collins: 1-for-6
• Sam Thompson: 1-for-3
• Cassidy Cook: 1-for-4
• Charlotte Mabbs: 1-for-3

UP NEXT:

The Vikings will take on Centre in game three of the series tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.