Hammond, Ind. - July 28, 2020 - The Vikings (13-9) coming off a walk-off win welcomed the MCL Minutemen (8-14) to win their second straight game. The bats for the Vikings were hot throughout the game but so were the MCL Minutemen’s. The Vikings led throughout the game including a 9-3 lead, but the Minutemen wouldn’t go away, as the Minutemen came back and won 12-11.
The Minutemen started the first inning with a lead off triple and a sacrifice fly taking an early 1-0 lead.
The Vikings started their scoring in the bottom of the second inning. Bryan Broecker (Michigan State/Chicago, Ill.) started the inning off with a single to left field. Nick McAlister (Southern Illinois/Homewood, Ill.) drew a walk and Logan Anderson (South Suburban/Frankfort, Ill.) recorded a hit by pitch loading the bases with no outs. Daniel Barrios (St. Xavier/Peotone, Ill.) singled to left field scoring Broecker and McAlister giving the Vikings a 2-1 lead. Dane Thomas (Wright State/Chicago, Ill.) tripled to right field scoring Anderson and Barrios giving the Vikings two more runs and a 4-1 lead. Thomas would later score on a passed ball to extend the lead to 5-1.
The Minutemen continued their offense in the third inning using a lead off triple and four walks to score two runs and cut into the Viking deficit 5-3.
More offense occurred in the third inning with Luke Napleton (Quincy/La Grange, Ill.) drawing a lead off walk. Anderson with two outs reached base for the second time with a walk, having runners on second and first two outs. Barrios continued to add to his RBI total with single to right field scoring Napleton making it 6-3 Vikings.
The Vikings continued to keep the Minutemen at three runs and added to their own run total. McAlister with a lead off walk and Anderson singling to shortstop advancing McAlister to third with no outs. McAlister scored on a passed ball as Anderson advanced to second. Barrios recorded a walk after the McAlister run. Dylan Robertson (Iowa Western/Downers Grove, Ill.) singled to right field scoring Barrios extending the lead to 8-3. Chris McDevitt (Indiana State/ Chicago, Ill.) recorded a fielder's choice scoring Thomas adding another one 9-3.
The Minutemen wouldn’t go away just yet. Four runs by the Minutemen in the sixth and seventh inning gave the Minutemen a 11-10 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth inning Anderson singled to left field driving in McAlister giving the Vikings their tenth run of the game.
The Minutemen needing insurance runs to have a comfortable lead, got what they needed. A home run to lead off the inning in the eighth gave the Minutemen a 12-10 lead.
In the last two games at Dowling Park the Vikings have had two come from behind walk-off wins. That wouldn’t be the case in Tuesday’s matchup.
Robertson with one out reached on first due to a fielder's choice. McDevitt drove the ball to deep center scoring Robertson from first with a triple. Napleton would get a chance to drive in the tying run at third with two outs. Napleton grounded out to the shortstop ending the game in 12-11 loss for the Vikings.
“We were just gassed out there today, we’ve played three long games this past week and it caught up to us today,” Vikings manager Rocco Mossuto said. “Even though we lost we played great, we scored 11 runs today and the offense continues to do its job. We’ll bounce back and be fine for the upcoming games.”
The Vikings end their homestand Wednesday July 29 as they face the DuPage County Hounds. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. and the game will be at Dowling Park located in Hammond, Ind. The game will be available on the Southland Vikings Facebook page via Facebook Live. Jack Theil alongside Thomas Gorski will be on the call for the game.
