Coming into last night’s game the Northwest Indiana Oilmen were riding a four game winning streak, on the opposite end of the spectrum, the Vikings came in after a loss to the last place Chicago Zephyrs this past weekend. 

Monday night’s 10-7 outcome resulting in a Southland victory was not expected around the Midwest Collegiate League, especially with the way the Oilmen had been playing lately and even more so with the 3-0 lead Northwest Indiana jumped out to in the first two innings off of starting pitcher Evan Nietfeldt. 

The 3-0 lead did not last long though, as the Vikings struck back with three of their own in their half of the third inning thanks to an arrant pick off attempt from Oilmen starting pitcher Brett Schnieder which sailed into center field under the mitt of Anthony Bova, scoring Corey Ray and leading to an RBI single by Dan Potempa plating Sean Beesly. 

Both respective teams traded runs in each half of their own innings until the bottom of the seventh when the Vikings scored two runs extending their lead to three as Jeff Boehm drove in his ninth and tenth runs of the season on a sharp single into right field.

Head coach Chris Cunningham gave the ball to his dynamic setup closer combination of Jonathan Rosario and Anthony Andres to close the door on the Oilmen, Andres picking up his third save of the season.

Bryan Jagielo picked up his first win of the season as Joe Cochran was saddled with his first loss of the summer moving him to 1-1 for NWI.

Tonight the two teams will battle again, this time at Oil City Stadium in Whiting, Indiana. First pitch at 7:10 p.m.