The Southland Vikings (13-18) led most of the way but lost the lead in the ninth inning and fell, once again, to the Will County CrackerJacks (21-11), 6-5, in ten innings at Brennan Field.

The Vikings struck first with a 2-run single by Damon Saunders in the second inning. He went 4 for 4 with one run scored and two RBIs. But in the bottom of the inning, John Menken homered to make it 2-1.

After four scoreless innings, the Vikings seemed to take control of the game in the seventh. With runners on second and third, Shane Brown tripled to score both runs. Dan Potempa then knocked him in on a groundout to make it 5-1 Vikings. Brown finished the game going 2 for 4 with one run scored and two RBIs.

The CrackerJacks added one in the eighth inning and were down 5-2 in the ninth. Aaron Hauge (0-1) was in-line to get the win as he pitched six innings, allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out 10. But Jonathan Rosario (2-0) could not hold off the CrackerJacks in the ninth as an error by James Dawson and a 2-run double by Shaun McGraw allowed the CrackerJacks to tie it and send the game to extra innings.

After the Vikings went down in order in the top of the tenth, Jake O’Brien started off the bottom of the tenth with a double off Vikings’ pitcher Benny Collesano (0-1). Jake Thomas was intentionally walked and then O’Brien was putout at third on a fielder’s choice. After Landon Lucansky hit an infield single, Daniel Nevares won the game with a suicide squeeze.

Collesano picked up the loss for the Vikings while Andrew Carden (2-0) received the win. The Vikings will start a 3-game homestand on Monday when they host the Northwest Indiana Oilmen.