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Hammond, Ind. – July 7, 2022 – Behind quality pitching and timely hitting, the Vikings improved their winning streak to three games.

Thursday night the Southland Vikings (17-11-1) defeated the Joliet Generals (13-14) by a final score of 8-5. The Vikings win over Joliet was their second victory over the defending champions this season. 

After falling behind 3-0, the Vikings slowly clawed their way at the General lead. Logan Anderson knocked in Chris McDevitt on an RBI groundout in the bottom of the third. The second Southland run would come in the following inning, as Sean Moore would come around to score on an RBI single from A.J. Taylor. 

The Vikings' offense would stall for an inning before taking the lead in the sixth. Sean Moore started the inning off with a single, which would be his third trip on the basepaths in Thursday’s contest. 

“I think I put fear in his eyes,” Moore said. “He walked me twice and then the next pitcher came in and I smoked the ball up the middle. It felt really good [to be] out there.”

Moore would tie the game as he scored on the sacrifice fly from Kyle Fenner. After the Vikings loaded the bases, George Bilecki stepped up and worked a four-pitch walk to give the Vikings a 4-3 lead. The very next batter, Jason Krol, hit a two-RBI single to provide the Vikings with two key insurance runs. 

“I'm not really sure what's what I've been up to,” Krol said. “[I’m] just trying to hit the ball hard somewhere…but today I just saw the ball really well.” 

Southland was able to tack on a run in both the seventh and eighth inning to put the game out of reach. 

While the Vikings were mounting this comeback, the pitching staff for Southland saved the day once again. 

After giving up three runs through his first three innings of work, Viking starter Colin Amsden settled in and threw a shutout in his last three innings on the mound, keeping the Vikings in the game.

Amsden went for six innings, allowing three runs, eight hits and handing out a walk, and three strikeouts. The six innings for Amsden were good enough for the win and were also his longest appearance of the summer. 

“I just made the adjustment earlier,” Amsden said. “I was kind of getting hit around a little bit so I just kept pounding the strike zone, getting lower in the zone and it got better as the game went on.”

The Vikings are back in action on Friday as they return to Oil City Stadium in Whiting, Indiana to take on their rivals, the Northwest Indiana Oilmen. First pitch is slated for 7:10 p.m. and will be aired on the Oilmen Broadcasting Network.

This is Vikings Baseball.

Photo Credit: Isaiah Santiago