College Baseball Final – Berry 2, Guilford 1

MOUNT BERRY, Ga. – Berry College’s Ben Jernigan led the Vikings’ pitching staff with five shut-out innings as Guilford College fell in their season-opening contest to Berry, 2-1.

Alex McGill put Berry on the board in the top of the first inning, driving home Dusty Tyson on a sacrifice fly with one out to claim an early lead. Tyson represented the lone hit in the inning as he led off the contest with a single. With runners at the corners and one out in the bottom of the sixth frame, Alfred Francis came across home plate on a balk to provide the Vikings’ insurance run.

After Nathan Fulbright singled to place runners at the corners with one out one-half inning later, Chuck Noble provided a spark for the Quakers on a fielder’s choice play at second base to cut the lead in half in the top of the seventh inning.

Drew Crawford (0-1) took the loss for the Quakers, throwing five innings and striking out two while surrendering one earned run on four hits and walking none. Darin Salter threw the final three innings giving up one run on two hits while striking out and walking one batter a piece.

Jernigan (1-0) struck out three batters and surrendered just two hits for the Vikings. Ryan O’Connell relieved Jernigan and threw two innings giving up one run on one hit while walking three. Braxton Teal earned his first save of the season, throwing the final two innings hitless while striking out one batter and walking one.

The Quakers and the Vikings finish up their season-opening two-game set tomorrow at 1 p.m.