Mankato, Minn. – The Vikings earned three more wins in a tripleheader against Northland. The games were originally scheduled to be split between Friday and Saturday, but weather prevented the two UMAC opponents from hitting the field until today.
Game 1 (W 6-3)
Cody Hallahan (Silver Lake, Minn./Minnesota State, Mankato) got the start in the first game striking out ten batters. Hallahan didn't walk any LumberJacks in his seven innings pitched. The right-hander allowed four hits and two earned runs.
Travis Fisher (Cedar, Minn. / St. Francis) and Tommy Kramer (Blooming Prairie, Minn. / Rochester CC) led the Bethany Lutheran recording two hits on three at bats. The Vikings three hitter Darin Hendley (Nicollet Minn./Mankato East) hit a single for two RBI. Trent Sonnicksen (Blue Earth, Minn./Blue Earth) also hit an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Northland committed five errors in the field, while the Vikings were able to stay clean defensively.
Game 2 (W 19-4)
The Viking bats were moving in the second game with Sonnicksen going four for four with three runs and three RBI. Jeremy Bade (Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley) also had three RBI and went two for two scoring one run. Kramer continued to be hot at the plate going three for four with four runs scored and one RBI.
Sonnicksen, Fisher and catcher Mitch Kliest (Eagle Lake, Minn./Mankato East) each had doubles, with Kliest and Hendley batting runners in on sacrifice flies.
Garret Benson (Rochester, Minn./Rochester Mayo) got the start, and win for the Vikings pitching five innings giving up five hits and two earned runs. Benson didn't give up a walk and struck out seven batters. Phil Wessberg (Shoreview, Minn. / Mounds View) came in for an inning going three up three down striking out one of the three batters he faced. Eric Kropp (Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley) then got his chance on the mound. He gave up one hit and no runs to close out the game.
Each team had two errors in the field. Northland hit six batters to place Vikings on base.
Game 3 (W 9-1)
Justin Kohls (Watertown, Minn./Dakota County CC) pitched a full game to bring his season record to 5-0. He allowed one run on four hits and struck out five batters.
Benji Hager (Owatonna, Minn. / Ridgewater CC) came in playing left field to go three for three recording three runs and three RBI. Kramer went two for two with one run and two RBI. Zach Herd (Gaylord, Minn./Sibley East) was two for four including a double and an RBI. Aaron Siefken (Lone Rock, Minn./Iowa Central CC) had two RBI on his double. Kramer and Casey Woodside (Albert Lea, Minn. / MN-Crookston) also hit doubles.
The Vikings had one error in the field while Northland had two.
Bethany Lutheran will play again tomorrow in a doubleheader against non-conference opponent St. Thomas in St. Paul at 2:30 p.m.