Whiting, Ind. – July 5, 2014 –The Southland Vikings, winners of five straight, were looking for their sixth win in a row with their pitcher Brandon White on the mound. White was looking to bounce back from his previous outing against the Oilmen, when he went 4 1/3 innings and allowed five runs.
White rebounded against the Oilmen as the Vikings won 13-3.
The Vikings’ red-hot offense, the best in the MCL, struck first in the first inning with three consecutive singles to start the game. Dan Potempa started the scoring with a two-run double to left field. The Vikings struck again in the third inning with doubles by Chase Fieldhouse and Bobby Sheppard.
In back-to-back games, the Southland offense has not been the only story as the starting pitcher has shut down the Oilmen.
White put together a strong showing with a major league scout in attendance. White was dealing through seven innings only having only allowed one hit and issued one walk. The Oilmen were finally able to score off White in the eighth inning on a bloop, RBI double by Rob Blissitt.
“I pitched to contact tonight more than overpowering like I did last time versus them,” White said. “I feel I hit my spots today and able to get the outs when I needed them.”
White turned in his best performance of the season as he pitched eight strong innings only allowing one run over four hits.
“White found his spots, and tried not to pitch very fast,” Cunningham said. “Last time he faced the Oilmen he tried to throw way too fast and Oilmen jumped all over him.”
The Vikings offense was able to do the rest against Oilmen starter Keith Mahler, who has been dominant for the Oilmen this season. Mahler was 2-3 on the year with a 1.55 ERA and only lasted four innings tonight allowing five runs over 10 hits.
The Vikings broke through in the fifth inning as the Vikings drew three walks, three hits and were able to score five more runs to go ahead 10-0 off Oilmen reliever Nick Nauracy.
Vikings left fielder Chris Sujka led the way for the team, going 4-for-5 in the game with two doubles, while Vikings right fielder Steve Letz drove in three runs.
Vikings struck for three more runs in the top of the seventh inning on two key Oilmen errors.
The Oilmen started a rally in the ninth after being patient at the plate off Southland reliever Anthony Spangler. Oilmen scored two in the ninth, but it was not enough as the Vikings won 13-3.
The win gives the Vikings sole possession of second place, six straight victories and now a record of 14-8.
The Vikings (14-8) have a quick turnaround tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. as the Vikings take on the Joliet Admirals at Homewood-Flossmoor High School.
