Hammond, Ind. - June 28, 2021 - The Southland Vikings (7-11) off four days due to bad weather, looked to win consecutive games for the first time all season long. They faced the first place Joliet Generals (9-5) in Monday's contest. The seven inning contest was all Generals until the Vikings scored six runs in the sixth inning and defeated the Generals 6-2 in seven innings, stringing back to back wins for the first time this season.
It was a pitcher's duel for both teams through three innings, the Generals scored one run in the fourth and one run in the fifth inning to take a 2-0 lead.
Ryan Adasiak (St. Xavier / Oak Lawn, Ill.) on the mound for the Vikings, his first start of the season. Adasiak saw little trouble in his outing, lasting four and two thirds innings, five hits, one earned run, one strikeout, keeping the Vikings in the game late.
“It felt good, before the game the weather was messing up the mound so I had to adjust to it,” Adasiak said. “My main thing was to throw strikes to draw ground balls and fly balls. I pitched in the bullpen and the mound wasn’t the greatest, so adjusting to it was the main focus but you can’t have any excuses because it’s raining outside. Pound the zone, make it simple, not to draw the pitch count up was the biggest thing. Even though this was my first start, I’m fine with what coach has me do in the future, whatever can help the team out the most.”
The Vikings comeback started in the sixth inning after totaling zero runs and five hits through five innings, the Vikings flipped the switch. Joe Selby (Triton College / Romeoville, Ill.) led the inning off with a walk. Jason Krol (Lewis / Chicago, Ill.) singled to right field and Kyel Alexander (St. Ambrose / Burbank, Ill.) walked to load the bases with zero outs. Darrius Little (Morton College / Chicago, Ill.) hit by the pitch, scoring Selby 2-1, leaving the bases loaded. Dashon Moore (Georgetown College / Chicago, Ill.) grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Krol, Little out at second, the game tied 2-2. The biggest hit of the game came from the bat of Logan Anderson (South Suburban / Frankfrot, Ill.). Anderson lined a go-ahead RBI single to center field, scoring Alexander, Vikings taking a 3-2 lead. Joe Rycerz (St. Xavier / Schererville, Ind.) worked a five pitch walk, loading the bases with one out. Jon Crowel (Flagler College / Highland, Ill.) drew a walk, scoring Moore, 4-2. Caleb Evans (Jackson State / Hawthorn Woods, Ill.) drew a ball to the foot and another hit by pitch for the Vikings scored Anderson, 5-2. Selby lined a sac-fly to right field, scoring Rycerz, extending the lead to 6-2.
“Just try to do something for the team, get a ball to the outfield and get the go-ahead run on the board, got the elevated fastball which I was looking for and drove it,” Anderson said. “You have to stay in it throughout the year, it’s the name of the game and you have to play the full game. The Vikings are hot, we have to keep that mentality, stay loose and have fun this summer.”
Justin Valdez (Morton College / Palos Heights, Ill.) came in to close out the game in the seventh and did just that. Holding the Generals scoreless in the seventh inning, having the Vikings win their first consecutive games of the season, beating the Generals 6-2.
“Obviously in the early going, we weren’t hitting the ball and then we were leaving runners on the bases,” Vikings Manager Rocco Mossuto said. “It was good for the team to come back and score some runs late here. Nice job of the pitching to hold the Generals to two runs making this game comebackable. The guys fought out there and gained some good at-bats, as well as innings on the mound.”
The Vikings next game is Tuesday, June 29 vs Crestwood Panthers. First pitch is slated for 5:05 p.m. and the game will take place at Dowling Park located in Hammond, Ind. The game will be broadcasted on the Southland Vikings Facebook Page via Facebook Live. Jon Zaghloul and Jack Theil will have the call for the game.
