The weather hasn’t been ideal for playing golf this week, but a large collection of players are prepared to brave the elements during the Rome News-Tribune Invitational that is being hosted by Berry College.

The two-day event, which features a talented field of schools including Berry and Shorter, is scheduled to begin today at Coosa Country Club.

The tournament was scheduled to start with a practice round today at 8:15 a.m., but it has been pushed back by about two hours due to potential frost. The first round is scheduled to begin (with a shotgun start) at 1 p.m., according to Berry golf coach Brian Farrer.

BERRY BASEBALL:

Vikings rally for win

Trailing by five runs in the top of the sixth, Berry rallied to defeat Southern Athletic Association foe Hendrix, 9-7, on Sunday afternoon, at Warrior Field.

Berry upped its record to 5-6 and 2-1 in SAA matchups. Hendrix fell to 5-8 and 1-2.

After scoring three runs in the sixth, the Vikings plated two more in the seventh, both coming home on an infield single by Doug Heath, which tied everything up, 7-7.

Grant Perkins gave Berry the lead for good with a RBI double in the eighth, and Dusty Tyson added a run-scoring single later in that frame.

Danny Parry (1-0) earned his first career win for Berry as he pitched two scoreless innings.

Christian Champion notched the save as he induced a game-ending double play ball off the bat of pinch-hitter John Pounds, stranding all three runners.

Kyle Teachout (0-2) took the loss for Hendrix and gave up three hits and three runs (all earned).

Stephen Gaylor totaled three hits, three runs and a stolen base for Berry. Austin Neely also scored three times, and Zach Farmer had four RBIs.

Thomas Weber picked up three base hits for Hendrix, and Ryan Ritz had two RBIs and two runs scored.

The Vikings will return to home to face SAA opponent Sewanee for a three-game series starting on Thursday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at William R. Bowdoin Field.

SHORTER BASEBALL:

Hawks splits doubleheader

Shorter avoided a weekend sweep at the hands of Gulf South Conference foe North Alabama, taking the first game of a Sunday doubleheader, 7-1, before falling in the finale, 10-1.

UNA took two of three in the weekend series.

Shorter left Florence with a 2-13 overall record and 1-2 mark in the GSC. North Alabama improved to 8-5 overall and 2-1 in league play.

Shorter outhit UNA 10-5 in the opener, with the top four batters in the lineup — Cal Hardie, Charlie Gillis, Jesse Gavigan and Michael Miranda — combining for six of those hits and five of Shorter’s seven runs.

Shorter returns to action on Tuesday when the Hawks travel to Lincoln Memorial for a 2 p.m. contest.

BERRY MEN’S TENNIS

The Berry College men’s team suffered an 8-1 loss to undefeated Stonehill on Sunday at the Lake Tennis Center.

The Vikings’ No. 1 doubles team of Logan Yerbey and Seth earned Berry’s lone point with 9-7 win.

Berry, which dropped to 1-2, faces Wabash on Monday.