Flossmoor, Ill. - Entering Sunday’s doubleheader against the Lexington Snipes the Southland Vikings were riding a 10-game winning streak, but the Snipes took both games on Sunday. The Vikings would have a quick turnaround Monday night to play two more as the Vikings would have a doubleheader versus their rival, the Oilmen.
The Vikings won the first game in walk-off fashion by the score of 2-1.
The Vikings trailed the first-place DuPage County Hounds by 3 ½ games entering the doubleheader and had a half game lead over the Oilmen.
“It was hard to come back after that doubleheader yesterday, four games in two days is tough,” Vikings manager Chris Cunningham said. “I feel the guys still went out there and played well.”
Vikings starter Dan Wetzel started game one of the doubleheader and entered the game with a 2-0 record and a 3.90 ERA.
The last time Wetzel pitched against the Oilmen was on July 1, where he went five innings and gave up five runs, but his team was able to support him with 14 runs in that game capped off by three home runs.
Wetzel went five innings without allowing a run in the game and ran into trouble in the sixth inning when pinch-hitter Alec Ornelas hit a double down the left-field line to drive in a run. Wetzel allowed one unearned run and four hits in six innings.
The Vikings got on the scoreboard early with power that the Vikings are known for. Dan Potempa hit his fifth home run of the season in the second inning, but it proved to be the only run that Oilmen starter Cameron Linck allowed all game.
Potempa went 3-for-3 in the first game for the Vikings with a home run and two singles.
The Vikings had an opportunity in the sixth inning with runners at second and third, but were not able to score.
The Vikings capitalized and walked off in the seventh inning by Chris Sujka to lead the Vikings to a 2-1 victory in the first game.
“It is tough after coming off two games yesterday,” Potempa said. “Four games in the last 24 hours is a hard thing to do.”
The Vikings entered the second game having their fourth game in two days losing to Oilmen 7-4 in the second game.
Kevin Hallberg (3-3) started the second game for the Vikings, seeking his first win of the season against the Oilmen. Hallberg struggled early on in the game, giving up a home run to Zack Jones and an RBI double to Jason Gasser. He allowed five runs over five innings and took the loss.
The Oilmen jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. The Vikings offense had their first answer for Oilmen starter Keith Mahler (3-4) as Jeff Boehm hit a home run in the fourth inning to cut the lead to 2-1. Mahler finished up with five innings and allowed only one run.
The Oilmen were able to extend the lead to 5-1 in the fifth inning and started a rally with a two-run home run by Craig Dedelow and had bases loaded and able to get a run after Chase Fieldhouse could not make a diving catch.
Mike Poulos came in for relief for the Vikings and did not fare well in the sixth as the Oilmen loaded the bases and Nate Schneider hit a two-run double.
The Vikings started a rally in the sixth inning off Oilmen reliever Aaron Glatt. Vikings scored three runs in the sixth inning to cut the lead to three runs heading to the seventh inning.
“Both teams know each other very well, this is the eighth time the two have played,” Cunningham said. “Mahler pitched a good game in the second game.”
The Vikings go to 17-11 with the split of the doubleheader against the Oilmen. The Vikings remain in second place entering Tuesday’s game against the Zephyrs.
