MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - The Vikings' offense shined in their dominant sweep over the Scots of Covenant College, winning 8-2 and 11-0 on Saturday afternoon at Kay Williams Field.
Game 1: Berry 8 - Covenant 2
Hannah Gore dominated in the circle, earning her 50th career win with nine strikeouts in six innings.
Ava Fouts opened up the series with an explosive leadoff triple and was batted in by Paige Bennett for the first run of the game. A double to left field by Katie Parker brought Bennett home. An Elly Bennett single led to an RBI, as Parker advanced on a throwing error that gave the Vikings an early 3-0 lead heading into the second.
The Scots (4-8) were able to scrape back in the top of the third, capitalizing on an error leading to two unearned runs (3-2).
With determination to win the inning, the Vikings (9-1) strung together a series of hits. Doubles from Elly Bennett and Bradynn Belcher, plus a single by Kennedy Moody, enabled the Vikings to score four runs, providing a 7-2 cushion.
The Scots became stagnant offensively as Megan Rapillo entered the circle in the top of the 6th inning, collecting a strikeout in two innings of work to earn Rapillo's first save of the season.
The final run for Berry came in the bottom of the 6th inning, as Paige Bennett put the ball in play to score Fouts.
Game 2 : Berry 11 - Covenant 0
In her first win of the season, Casey Holloway started game two in the circle for the Vikings. Supported by Fouts and Avery Greeson, the staff limited the Scots' offense to just one hit and no runs.
The Vikings' offense erupted in the bottom of the second inning, scratching across an impressive nine runs. Freshman Brooke Thompson set the tone for the inning with an RBI double to center field. A two RBI single by Fouts was followed by a Paige Bennett RBI triple. Moody roped an RBI double to right field and scored on a single by Elly Bennett. A triple by Erica Bennett and single by Rachel Runsick each drove a run in, closing the inning with a 9-0 lead.
Defense for the Vikings remained lights out behind the talent in the circle, keeping the Scots scoreless.
The Vikings, looking for extra insurance, pushed two more runs in the bottom of the third and closed out the series in a run rule victory.
The Berry Vikings will be back in action this Friday at 1:00 PM, as they travel to Raleigh, North Carolina to compete in the Triangle Classic tournament.
