DULUTH, Minn. – It was a game of lead changes as the Vikings and Saints found momentum at different times. The Vikings outhit the Saints again 18-8 and a come from behind effort turned into a lopsided win as BLC won game one 17-7.
 
The Vikings started quickly with four hits and one run in the first inning. Mylo Hommes singled, advanced to third, and then scored on a sac-fly from Nick Caldeen. The Saints tied the game in the bottom of the second, but the Vikings put together a four-run third inning to retake the lead. The Saints answered with three runs in the bottom of the third, but the Vikings maintained their 5-4 lead. The Vikings' offense stalled for a few innings while the Saints went on to score three more runs to take a 7-5 lead into the eighth inning.
 
Down by two runs in the eighth, Walker Linde and Mylo Hommes each collected singles to give the Vikings two runners on board with one out. After a wild pitch, the BLC runners moved into scoring position at second and third. Martiarena hit a sac-fly to score Linde from third while Hommes stayed at second. With Hommes at second, Nick Caldeen stepped up to the plate and delivered again for the Vikings with a single up the middle to drive in the tying run. The Vikings made quick work of the Saints in the bottom of the inning, retiring the first three batters to preserve the 7-7 tie heading into the ninth.
 
John Brown started the ninth with a single to left center and the Saints made their first of three pitching changes in the inning. Kevin Harris and Walker Linde both boarded on balls to load the bases for the Vikings with just one out. Grant Becher then delivered a two-run single to right field to give the Vikings a 9-7 lead. With runners on the corners, Mylo Hommes delivered a two-run double to left field to increase the lead to 11-7. The next two batters, Martiarena and Caldeen, each took walks to once again load the bases. Ben Boran delivered an RBI single to drive in Hommes from third and keep the bases loaded. Joe Ziwicki was hit by a pitch and Kevin Harris walked to give the Vikings two more runs, but they were still not done. After the fourth pitcher of the inning for the Saints, the Vikings were finally retired, but they took a 17-7 lead into the bottom of the ninth and would go on to win by that score.
 
Up Next: The Vikings and Saints will play game two at 5 PM for a trip to the NCAA Regional on the line.
 
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MEDIA: If you need further information, please feel free to contact Dan DeWitt at 507-344-7856 or email ddewitt@blc.edu