southlandvikings.com

The Southland Vikings (14-18) scored all but two runs on home runs to beat the Northwest Indiana Oilmen (21-12) and start their 3-game homestand with a win.

The Oilmen scored first with back-to-back home runs in the first inning from Chris Rudenga and Billy Miller. But in the bottom of the inning, Elliott Armstrong led off with a solo home run to make it 2-1.

In the third, Chris Stevens gave the Vikings the lead with a 3-run home run to make it 4-2. In the following inning, Armstrong knocked in his second home run of the game, this one with Alec Ornelas and Micah Rooke on base, to give the Vikings a 7-2 lead.

After the Oilmen added a run in the sixth, the Vikings pulled away in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a 2-run double from Stevens followed by a 2-run home run by James Dawson. The Oilmen added two in the ninth but the Vikings still walked away with an 11-5 win.

Leading the way offensively was Armstrong who went 3 for 5 with four runs scored and four RBIs. Stevens also had a strong day, going 2 for 3 with two runs scored and five RBIs.

Brandon Duplessis (3-1) picked up the win as he went all nine innings, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits while striking out four. Kale Popp (2-2) received the loss for the Oilmen.

The Vikings will continue their homestand on Tuesday night when they host the DeKalb County Liners (21-13). The series between the two teams is split at one game apiece.