College Baseball Finals – Berry 5–6, Guilford 2–2

MOUNT BERRY, Ga. – Berry College’s Slade Dale totaled four RBIs over the Saturday afternoon doubleheader as the Quakers fell in the first seven-inning contest, 5-2, and in the nightcap, 6-2.

Both sides traded a run in the second inning of game one as three Quakers reached base with one out before the Vikings rallied to end the half-inning. Berry only needed one hit in the bottom half of the inning to produce a run off of a fielder’s choice to tie the game. Mitchell Stumpo brought the second run home on a double play in the top of the fourth inning after the Quakers opened with back-to-back singles. Two errors led Berry to a big inning in the bottom of the fifth as a two-out fielding error produced three of the Vikings’ four runs to give Berry the advantage. Brett Shapcott and Jacob Roberts produced one-out singles in the top of the seventh inning, but the Vikings induced a line-out double play to end the first contest.

Berry jumped to a 4-0 lead after two innings when Berry scored three runs with two outs in the bottom of the second inning on Dale’s two out single that was elongated thanks to an error at home plate. The Quakers responded with a Josh Shepherd single in the next half-inning and had runners in scoring position before being retired. Shepherd added one more run on a sacrifice fly with no outs in the top of the seventh frame after Berry added two insurance runs one half-inning earlier. With two runners on base with one out, Berry induced another double play to conclude to second game.

Shapcott finished the afternoon three-for-six after a two-hit game two. Logan Jones also finished three-for-six with a two-hit game one. Shepherd rebounded with a one-for-two effort in game two where he drove in both runs. Shepherd also reached base on a walk twice in the afternoon.

Dale finished the afternoon three-for-seven with four RBI. Ben Jernigan finished two-for-five with both hits being doubles. Dusty Tyson finished four-for-six after batting three-for-three in game one.

Parks Smithey (0-2) took the game one loss for the Quakers, giving up just two earned runs on seven hits while striking out four batters and walking one. Chase Shuford (0-1) took the game two loss in a two-inning effort where he struck out three. John Todd led the bullpen with a scoreless three-inning effort in game two, giving up just four hits.

Ryan O’Connell earned the game one win for the Vikings in a five-inning effort where gave up two runs on four hits while striking out two and walking three. Tyler Will garnered his first save of the season throwing the seventh inning where he gave up two hits. T.J. Montgomery (1-0) claimed the game two win for the Vikings with a four-inning effort where he gave up one run on six hits while fanning three and walking one batter.

The Quakers (2-3) look to open their 2016 home schedule Thursday, hosting Castleton University for a 2:30 p.m. first pitch at McBane Field.