Crown Point, Ind. – June 10, 2022 – In the game of baseball, there are nights when six runs on seven hits are not enough, Friday night was one of those cases. 

The Southland Vikings (5-7-1) were one of those cases as they fell to the Lake County Corn Dogs (9-3) by a final of 13-6, at Legacy Field in Crown Point. 

While the Vikings struck first after Julio Treviño hit a fielder’s choice with an error that allowed Chris McDevitt to score, the Vikings proceeded to give up eight unanswered runs in their first three innings on defense, behind solid Corn Dog hitting, and an error on the Viking defense. The Vikings were able to stop the bleeding in the top of the fourth inning behind an RBI single from Zach McKenna, and a run-scoring fielder’s choice by Anthony Fornero. 

Southland would proceed to add one run in the fifth before Jon Crowel led off the top of the seventh with a solo home run to left field.

Crowel’s home run was his first of the season and the first home run by a Viking in 2022. 

“Sounds pretty nice,” Crowel said. “Usually, I’m more of a line drive/singles type of guy…but to let one fly feels pretty good.” 

That drive to left made it an 8-5 contest and the Vikings were right back in the game, but once again a few costly errors by the Vikings and timely hitting by Lake County saw a four-run bottom of the seventh and a 12-5 Corn Dog lead. 

Lake County would add one more run in the eighth and the Vikings would respond with one of their own in the ninth, but that’s all Southland could scratch. 

The Southland Vikings will be back in action on Tuesday, June 14, as they travel to Marian Catholic High School, to take on the Crestwood Panthers. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. and will be aired on Facebook Live.