The Oglethorpe baseball team split the doubleheader which opened the SAA season, defeating in-state opponent Berry 8-7 in a Game 1 thriller and dropping Game 2, 8-2.

Game 1 featured a repeat of the first game of the Curry series, as the Petrels got out to a huge lead and then had to hold on for dear life at the end. The Petrels scored six runs in the first three innings against the Vikings Saturday and all eight runs in the first five. They got big hits from first baseman Patrick Kulick in the first and left fielder Andre Turnquest in the second, a run-scoring double and single, respectively. Centre fielder Vernon Trick singled up the middle for another RBI in the third, and followed that up with another one in the fifth. Kulick put the exclamation point on the Petrel run with a rocket over the right-center field fence that landed up on the road.

Kulick continued his great play of late, going 4-for-5 in Game 1 with a home run, a double, two RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases. He would have even more say in the outcome of the game later on.

Berry scored five runs in the seventh to get back into the game and added another one in the ninth, bringing the Vikings to within just a single run. It was Kulick who moved to pitcher and promptly recored the game's final two outs, picking up his first save of the season.

Kyle Mitchell picked up his second win of the season after another solid outing, allowing two earned runs on four hits and three walks over 6-1/3 innings.

In Game 2, however, it was the Stormy Petrels who fell behind early and could not break through off of the Berry starter. The Vikings took a 3-0 lead into the fifth, but tallied four more times in that inning, essentially putting the contest away. The Petrels got two back in the sixth but a double-play ball snuffed out the rally.

Ryan Brennan suffered the loss for the Petrels, dropping to 1-1 on the season. He allowed five earned runs on seven hits and a walk over 4-1/3 innings. Kulick continued on his tear, going 2-for-3 with a double.

The results move the Petrels to 5-4 on the season, 1-1 in SAA play. They'll take on Berry in the series' rubber game Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. on Anderson Field.