05-22-09

Berry hits way to 10-5 win over Southern Poly

LEWISTON, Idaho – Eric Weiss smacked a three-run home run in the top of the fifth inning to put Berry College (Ga.) ahead for good as the Vikings defeated fellow Southern States Atlantic Conference member Southern Polytechnic State (Ga.) 10-5 Friday in the opening round of the 53^rd annual Avista NAIA World Series at Harris Field. 

It was the sixth meeting between the two schools, which are located less than 100 miles apart. Berry now leads the season series 4-2. 

Weiss’ three-run home run highlighted a 16-hit Vikings attack as seven of the team’s nine starters had two or more hits in the contest.  Blake Reynolds led the way with three while Weiss was among six others to finish with two each. 

Berry, which improved to 46-14 overall, took a 1-0 lead on Tye McCleary’s RBI ground out, but Southern Poly, 51-9, gained a 3-1 advantage when Jono Waugh blasted a three-run home run to the deepest part of center field. It was Waugh’s 15^th home run of the season. 

Berry cut the margin to 3-2 in the fourth when Mitch Terry singled up the middle. An inning later, Weiss put the Pirates ahead with his fifth home run of the season. 

Southern Poly countered with a run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 5-4 on Jake Barrow’s RBI single.  

The two teams both scored in the sixth. Berry picked up two runs on back-to-back RBI doubles by Patrick Taylor and Andrew Starr, while Chaise Oliver hit his fifth home run of the season for the Hornets. 

Berry made it 8-5 in the eighth on a double by Jarrett Northcutt and a throwing error. The Vikings completed the scoring in the ninth when Terry hit an RBI triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Herman Watkins. 

Weiss led Berry with three RBI, while Terry added two. Waugh had three RBI for the Hornets. 

Berry starter Chris Rearick picked up the win to improve to 9-2. He pitched six innings and allowed seven hits and five runs, but also struck out seven. Matthew McCalley pitched three-hit ball over the final three innings to earn his eighth save. 

Sean Teague, the first of three Southern Poly pitchers, took the loss to fall to 8-1. He gave up nine hits, six runs, and four walks in 5.2 innings. 

Berry earns one of two byes on Saturday and will resume play on Monday against either Lee or Lubbock Christian at 3 p.m., PST.  

Southern Poly falls into the loser’s bracket where it will meet Campbellsville at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.