MOUNT BERRY, Ga. (April 15, 2022) - The Rhodes Lynx and Berry Vikings each felt two complete opposite ends of the spectrum on Friday. Rhodes took the win in game one by a score of 13-3, followed by a 16-0 shutout win for Berry in gam two. Rhodes now stands at 21-13-1 overall and 11-6 in SAA play. Berry is 24-12, (12-5 SAA). 

Game One
Rhodes 13
Berry 3
7 Innings

The first game belonged to the Lynx from the jump. Peter York led off with a double, and was joined on the bases two batters later after a John McNair walk. A sac bunt moved both runners into scoring position, setting the stage for Ben Wilson to come through. He ripped a single to center to score both runners and give Rhodes a 2-0 lead. Two more runs would abe added to the lead in the second on a York RBI double and a Dante Messina RBI single. Wilson then added a third RBI in the third on a groundout that plated Wood Kimbrough. 

After Berry finally broke through against Rhodes starter Nick Ferazzi with a run in the fifth, the offense was quick to respond. Three straight two out hits led to two runs off the bat of Kimbrough. Will Heurtin then doubled in the next at bat to score two more runs and make it a 9-1 game. 

Rhodes continued to pile on in the seventh with four more runs. Bryce Anderson scored on a passed ball, followed by a Messina double that brought in York and Malcolm Rohlfing. The final run was brought in on a Kimbrough sac fly. Berry would score twice in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to reduce the Lynx lead below ten leading to a mercy-rule ending. 

Five Lynx recorded multiple hits, led by leadoff man York who had four hits, two doubles, three runs, and an RBI. Messina and Kimbrough each had three RBI. Ferazzi was phenomenal on the mound, tossing six innings while scattering five hits, allowing one unearned run with seven strikeouts. 

Game Two 
Berry 16
Rhodes 0
7 Innings

Revenge was swift for the Vikings, who pillaged the Lynx pitchers for 16 runs in game two. They scored one in the first, and then blew the game open in the second with four runs on five hits. Rhodes put two men on in the fourth with one out, but stranded both runners. Berry added four more runs in the fifth with three hits, three walks and a wild pitch. After both teams emptied their benches in the sixth, the Vikings scored four more times in the sixth on only one hit. They were aided by two hit batters, three walks, and error and a wild pitch. The Lynx loaded the bases in the seventh with a chance to avoid the shutout, but a flyout ended the game.

The two teams will face off once again on Saturday in the rubber match of the series. It is an important game as the schools vye for seeding in the conference tournament. Berry currently stands in second while the Lynx are a game back in third.