BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Birmingham-Southern baseball team returned home this weekend to take on Berry in a three-game series. The teams shut each other out on Saturday, but the Vikings claimed the series with a game three win on Sunday.

Game 1
Berry scored the first run of the game to start the series on a double down the left field line in the top of the third with two outs. The Vikings then left the runner in scoring position stranded and concluded the inning with a 1-0 lead. 

The Panthers could not get the bats going in game one and only recorded two hits through the first five innings. Meanwhile, Berry doubled their lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI single.

Despite the lack of hits, BSC remained in the game only down two runs until a solo home run to left field gave the Vikings their third run in the top of the sixth. They then knocked in a fourth run in the top of the seventh to go up four. 

BSC managed six hits in the game but could not bring any runners across the plate as they fell in game one, 4-0.

Records
#18 Birmingham-Southern 12-9 (3-4 SAA), Berry 16-7 (4-3 SAA)

Game 2
After a frustrating game one, BSC got on the board quickly in game two. Eli Steadman singled to start the bottom of the first followed by an Andrew Dutton double to make it second and third with no outs. Jackson Webster then scored Eli Steadman to give the Panthers their first run of the day. Andrew Dutton later scored on a wild pitch to give BSC a 2-0 lead after one inning.

In the bottom of the second, freshman Parker Ladd singled to left center to give the Panthers their third run in only two innings as Ty Truett crossed the plate. In the succeeding inning, Jackson Webster put the exclamation point on BSC's start with a rocket over the left field wall for a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Webster recorded his second homer of the game by crushing the ball over the visiting team bus in left center field to give BSC a commanding 5-0 lead.

Josh Leerssen continued to be fantastic on the mound for BSC and pitched a complete seven-inning game shutout. He only allowed three hits and recorded seven strikeouts as the Panthers took game two, 5-0.

Records
#18 Birmingham-Southern 13-9 (4-4 SAA), Berry 16-8 (4-4 SAA)

Game 3
After two shutouts on Saturday, Sunday was pivotal for both teams. Berry took initiative to begin the day with four runs on four hits in the top of the first inning. They then added on their fifth fun in the third inning in what looked to be a rough day at the office for BSC. 

In the bottom of the third, Andrew Dutton hit his first home run since late February to make the score 5-1. However, the rally did not get started for BSC as Dutton's bomb was the only run scored through five innings at the plate. 

The Vikings continued to have an excellent day at the plate with three more runs in the top of the fifth and one more in the sixth. With a 9-1 lead, the Panthers needed a huge comeback with only 12 outs to spare.

Ian Hancock gave BSC signs of life with a solo homerun in the bottom of the sixth, but Berry replied in the top of the seventh with their 10th run of the game courtesy of an RBI single. In the next inning, Andrew Dutton hit a sac fly with the bases loaded to score Ty Truett, but the home side still trailed 10-3 with two innings remaining.

The Panthers went on to score two runs in the bottom of the eighth to make the score 10-5 before Jackson Webster homered for the third time in the series to make the deficit three. However, the margin proved to be too large as Berry took game three, 10-7.

Records
#18 Birmingham-Southern 13-10 (4-5 SAA), Berry 17-8 (5-4 SAA)

Up Next
BSC will travel to LaGrange on Tuesday, March 26 for a battle of the Panthers. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. EST.