In stark contrast to their previous one-run, one-hit victory against the Rebels, the Hounds exploded for 10 runs on 17 hits in a 10-4 victory against their familiar, first-place foe.

The Vikings struck first with a run in the bottom of the second.  But the Hounds charged back with two in the top of the third and four in the top of fourth.  They would never relinquish the lead.

Greg Sells (C) led the charge with a 3-4 afternoon, including a wood-bat home run and a double down the left field line.  Phil Zelenka (CF) and Pedro Rondon (2B/3B) followed suit with three hits of their own, and Arron Kruse (SS/RF), Brian Lehman (LF), and Matt Burch (1B, RP) each tallied two.  Zelenka drove in three runs, while Kruse and Lehman each added a double to their respective stat lines.  Rondon contributed two RBI of his own as well as a javelin toss of a bat flip after his 4th inning double.

The Hounds’ offensive output was matched by an impressive performance from rookie Della Romano (SP/2B), who pitched 5 innings of 4 run (3 earned) baseball.  Romano added two strikeouts and one especially graceful pickoff move to round out her first career start for the Doggos.  Burch came on in relief and shut the door down in two clutch innings of work.  He was aided by the calming presence of his catcher, Sells, who perfectly timed a sixth-inning mound visit right before Burch rolled up a rally killing 6-4-3 double play.

With the win, the Hounds took temporary possession of first place in the CMBA standings.