Vikings come back to split with Graceland

Things got worse for the struggling Missouri Valley College baseball team before they got better during its weekend home series with Heart of America Conference West Division rival Graceland.

The difference between being swept Friday and winning both Sunday games was pitching. Viking hurlers allowed 25 hits and 14 runs during losses of 10-8, a discouraging 10-inning affair, and 8-7 on the first day. On the rematch two days later, Valley yielded only five hits and two earned runs during 11-3 and 2-0 wins, senior Joaquin Lopez firing a one-hit shutout in the finale.

The Vikings were in danger of dropping the opener until sophomore George Ban smashed a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the game into extra frames.

The Yellowjackets got a two-run shot from senior Brian Contreras in the top of the eighth, but Valley rallied. Junior Wes McCollum singled and came in on a double by sophomore Damon Owens, who crossed with the tying run on Ban's single.

Contreras' two-out RBI double broke the tie in the 10th, with Graceland tacking on two insurance runs on singles by seniors Angel Suarez and Sean Smith.

The Vikings got singles from senior Ricardo LeClaire and Owens to bring in one run and senior Cody Hanneken doubled to put the tying tally in scoring position with one out. However, senior Anthony Carlo came in the close, and finished the game with a strikeout and fly out.

Valley had to play catch-up in the nightcap, too, coming back from deficits of three and four runs. Trailing 7-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, the Vikings chipped away at the deficit -- Ban singling in a run during that stanza.

Junior Mark Leacox cracked an RBI double in the fifth and came in on McCollum's sacrifice fly and Valley tied the game when Ban crossed on a grounder after doubling to lead off the inning.

The 'Jackets, though, got a double from senior Samuel Felman and RBI single by junior Jason Bourbannais to snap the stalemate in the top of the seventh and Carlo again got out of a jam -- runners on the corners with two outs -- with a called third strike for the save.

The loss was the sixth straight for Valley, but their prayers were answered on Sunday -- first with the bats, pounding out 15 hits in the early contest. The Vikings scored three runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings -- junior Jay Walkup twice delivering two-run singles and senior Stephen Summers going yard with a man on base -- and senior Javien Estrada limited Graceland to three hits.

Graceland (5-16, 3-9 HAAC) was unable to do anything against Lopez, getting a lone single from junior Raymond Rivera, and stranding all four baserunners.

Walkup singled and scored on a passed ball in the second and Ban led off the third by drawing a walk, coming in on Walkup's sacrifice fly.

Walkup had four hits and five RBIs for the day to lead Valley (5-18, 3-11), which is scheduled to host William Jewell for a HAAC doubleheader Wednesday.