Hammond, Ind. – June 12, 2023 – The Southland Vikings could not overcome early mistakes and walks as they fell to the Elkhart County Miracle 12-6 on Monday.  

Hosting the Miracle for the first time at Dowling Park, the Vikings made a pair of errors in the first inning to open the door for Elkhart County to get to Southland starter Miso Salmeron.

The two errors and a single loaded the bases for the Miracle with only one out. What followed was a bases loaded walk, RBI single, RBI hit by pitch, and another bases loaded walk. That is when manager Sullivan Stickann made the call to end Salmeron’s day after recording just one out. Daniel Quintero came on in relief for his Vikings debut and retired the first five hitters he faced.  

After the Vikings scored four runs in the second inning to tie the game and get Salmeron off the hook for the loss, the Miracle jumped on Quintero in the third inning with another four runs to take an 8-4 lead and never looked back.  

The Vikings needed to use six different pitchers to get through the game, which included the season pitching debut for Hobbs Dunne. Dunne had been asking manager Sullivan Stickann for an opportunity to pitch in a game over the past week.  

“He was super excited,” Stickann said of Dunne being told that he would pitch the ninth inning. “We needed a pitcher really bad based on the way the game went and he stepped up and threw up a zero. I’m very happy about that, but hopefully we aren’t in a position where we need to use him again.”  

The Vikings continue a tough stretch as they play six of their next seven games against the Corn Dogs and Oilmen, who have the top two records in the Northern League.

“We really need to bring it every day," Stickann said. "I’m excited that we are getting some guys back this week. Guys coming back who were on vacation. I’m excited to work with [Bryce] Nevils. Hopefully when guys come back the team gets revitalized.”

The Vikings (6-6) will look to bounce back on Tuesday when they head to Oil City Stadium to take on the Northwest Indiana Oilmen (6-3). First pitch is at 7:10pm.