DECATUR, Ga. - Agnes Scott opened their home softball schedule with a difficult matchup against defending SAA Champions, Berry (5-1), dropping a close first game, 6-4, before falling in the nightcap, 17-3, as the Vikings exploded on offense after 11 innings of being held in check by the Scotties (0-4). The Vikings currently sit ranked #15 in NCAA Division III in the latest NFCA Coach's Poll.

Game 1 Recap
The Scotties went toe-to-toe with the Vikings, as the score remained tight throughout. Scottie starting pitcher Kyra Hornsby put in a solid 5.1 innings on the mound, finishing with only 3 earned runs and striking out 5 Vikings batters. Berry, who returned the core of their heralded pitching staff from a year ago, held the Scotties scoreless through the first four innings, before the Scotties loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, and freshman Lia Faulks blasted a single up the middle to score Kenzie Beaudoin and Sadie McCallum, bringing the Scotties within a run, trailing 3-2. Berry would build their lead to 6-2 after scoring 2 in the 6th and tacking on another run in the top of the 7th. The Scotties were not done at the plate, however, as freshman Ellie Settle singled to shortstop, scoring PresLee Hix. Jada Howard followed as she scored an RBI fielder's choice with the bases loaded, scoring Beaudoin from third. The Scotties rally would not be enough, as the Vikings got the last Scottie batter to fly out with the tying run on first.

Standouts in the contest included Horsby's day on the mound, as well as solid relief pitching from Amanda Barnes, who allowed only one earned run in 1.2 innings of work.At the plate, 7 Scotties registered hits in the contest, facing off with two pitchers who both had ERAs under 1.40 a year ago in the Vikings' run to the Super Regional in the NCAA Tournament. .PresLee Hix led the way in Game 1, finishing 2-for-4 and scoring twice. Kenzie Beaudoin reached base three times, going 1-for-2 with two walks and scoring a run. Faulks led in RBIs with 3, going 1-for-3 with a walk. Settle reached base twice as well, going 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. On the bases, Sadie McCallum, Beaudoin, and Bella Leonardi each registered a steal.

Game 2 Recap
Game 2 seemed like it might follow the same pattern as the first, as the two teams were neck and neck through 4 innings, with the Vikings holding a 2-0 edge over the Scotties through the fourth. The Vikings, however, found their offensive rhythm in the second game, as they exploded for 7 runs in the fifth and another 8 in the sixth, running away with a 17-3 victory. The Scotties would still be able to take away several positives from the second contest as well.

Down 9-0 in the bottom of the fifth, the Scotties were in danger of being "run-ruled" by the Vikings, but fought back to stretch the game to a sixth inning, as Jada Howard singled to right center and drove in the first run they needed to close the 9-run gap, and Taylor Selby hit a perfect grounder to third to sacrifice in Howard and bring the deficit to seven.

The Scotties still had plenty to celebrate in the game, as they finished the game error free, and 4 different players had hits. PresLee Hix continued her strong start to the young season, finishing 2-for-3 in Game 2 and scoring again for the Scotties in the bottom of the 7th. She finished the evening going 4-for-7 from the plate, while scoring three times. Settle was perfect in Game 2, going 1-for-1, scoring a run, registering an RBI, and walking twice. Howard and Leonardi also had hits in the contest. Defensively, the Scotties had a great night in the field as well, logging only one error across two contests.

The Scotties will continue their season as they travel to former GSAC and USA South rival, Salem College, for a Friday, February, 28 doubleheader. First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for Noon.