southlandvikings.com

Whiting, Ind. – July 15, 2023 – The Southland Vikings managed only three hits at Oil City Stadium on Saturday as they fell to the Oilmen 6-2.

With rain falling on and off in the early innings, the Vikings were never able to find a groove offensively while struggling on defense.

The Vikings fell behind early after allowing an unearned run in the second inning and another run in the third. The score remained 2-0 until the sixth inning.

Caleb Rhodes led off the sixth with a walk and one out later, Shemar Harris smacked his first homerun of the season to tie the game at two.

“That was a huge moment,” manager Sullivan Stickann said of the Harris homerun. “We needed to get something going and he didn’t try to do too much…It really got us back on our feet at the time.”

The game would not be tied for long however, as the Oilmen answered back with a run in the bottom of the sixth and then created some separation in the seventh on a bases clearing double by Cain Headrick to give the Oilmen a 6-2 lead.

The Vikings meanwhile would not have another hit the rest of the way as their only baserunner in the final three innings came when Jaylon Nauden reached on an error with one out in the ninth.

The Vikings (20-17) will look to bounce back on Sunday when they play the Lake County Corn Dogs (23-10) for their last game before the All-Star Break. First pitch from Crown Point is at 4pm.