The Gibraltar Vikings baseball team struggled to close out innings Friday evening in Mishicot in their 13-0 defeat to the Indians.
In each of the first three innings, the Vikings' pitching staff would record two outs quickly, only to see the Indians battle back to put up crooked numbers and make it a 12-0 game entering the fourth inning.
Aaron Brey gave the Vikings their first base runner in the first inning on a single, but would advance no further after Ethan Gnadt recorded the third of his eight strikeouts. The Indians' onslaught would start with two outs in the first when Brady Urbanak tripled home the first run and Ben Griffey drove him home in the very next at-bat. The game's biggest blow came a few batters later when Ashton Ayotte cleared the bases with a double to make it 5-0.
Gnadt would record 1-2-3 innings in the second and third frames against the Vikings while the Indians tacked on more runs. An error in the outfield drove in two runs while two throwing errors led to some of the five runs in the third. Brady Kita doubled in the fourth innings, but Gnadt recorded three straight outs to keep him stranded.
Reed Strupp proved to provide the fatal blow in the bottom of the fourth inning after the Vikings were held scoreless in the top of the fifth, ending the game early.
The Vikings will return to action on Saturday when they play Kewaunee at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute following the conclusion of Timber Rattlers/Cubs game. Tim Kowols will have the call beginning on 105.1 The GOAT and NEWRadioSportsNetwork.com.
