CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (April 21, 2018) - The No. 5 ranked Berry softball team won its fourth straight Southern Athletic Association (SAA) championship, Saturday. The Vikings topped rival Rhodes 10-1 at Frost Stadium at Warner Park in Chattanooga, Tenn.

With their victory, the Vikings earn the league's automatic bid into the 2018 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament. Berry opened play Saturday with a close 3-2 win over No. 2 seed Birmingham-Southern. After BSC fell into the loser's bracket, Rhodes was able to win two straight games to advance to the championship round against the Vikings.

Berry wasted little time taking control of the game. The Vikings scored one run in the top of the second, seven in the third, and one run in the fourth and fifth innings. Berry's offense was outstanding. The Vikings pounded out 12 hits, including nine for extra bases. Overall, nine Berry hitters scored at least one run or had at least one RBI.

Along with the offense, Berry starter Makenzie Flynt earned her seventh win after allowing only one hit and one run while striking out five in the complete-game win. Marisa Moore of Rhodes drove in the Lynx's lone run with a fielder's choice in the bottom of the fourth.