southlandvikings.com

The Northwest Indiana Oilmen (18-11) had an impressive win over the Southland Vikings (11-16) on Saturday night, 8-4.

Things were going the Oilmen’s way early as their first batter, Brandon Krieg, reached on an error by James Dawson en route to a three-run first inning. In the bottom of the first, the Vikings answered as Elliott Armstrong was walked and Shane Brown singled to start the threat. Then an error by Oilmen catcher Alex Lincoln on a throw down to first base allowed Armstrong to score from second and Brown to reach third. Next, a wild pitch scored Brown and the Vikings were only down 3-2.

But the Oilmen would dominate the rest of the game as they scored five unanswered runs including scoring in each of the first four innings. They ended with 14 hits as each batter recorded a hit and five recorded an RBI. They scored one run in the second and one in the third as well as added two more in the fourth. Another run in the sixth inning gave them an 8-2 lead.

The Vikings added two in the bottom of the ninth thanks to RBIs by Armstrong and Brown but could not complete the comeback and fell to the Oilmen, 8-4.

Armstrong led the way for the Vikings, going 4 for 4 with one run scored and one RBI. While the Vikings did end up with 11 hits, they were held in check by Oilmen starting pitcher Tait Rauen (1-1) who picked up his first win of the season. He went seven innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out three. Tony Balcazar (0-1) received his first loss of the season as he gave up four earned runs on 13 hits in six innings of work.

However, Tyler Willis (1-2) and Benny Collesano (0-0) came in to relieve Balcazar and did well as they gave up a combined one hit in three innings of work.

The Vikings have now dropped three straight games and have a doubleheader on Sunday against the Will County CrackerJacks to finish the first half of the season. First pitch is at 2 P.M. at Brennan Field.