Fueled by the momentum coming off their Wednesday night victory, the Hounds pulled out a back-and-forth contest by a score of 8-4 against the Vikings to even out their record at 2-2.

Mike DiCola (P) took the mound for the Hounds, striking out 8 and managing to keep the Vikings to 4 runs over 6 innings, despite giving up 12 hits and walking. Matt Burch (1B/P) came in to shut the door, striking out 1 of the 3 batters he faced.

The offense was led by Arron Kruse (EH) and Tim Riggenbach (CF), each of whom recorded two base hits apiece, as well as Burch, who added two RBI and two walks to a solid day at the plate. The Hounds secured victory by scoring 5 runs in the top of the 7th inning, highlighted by three straight hit-by-pitches to Brandon Jessee (2B), Greg Sells (SS/C), and Kruse, followed by a walk from Pedro Rondón (3B) to give the hounds a 5-4 lead. Jules Cantor made a pinch-hit appearance for Tony Correa (C) in what was Cantor’s first game action since his season-ending humerus fracture in June 2021 (that wasn’t very funny).

The defensive highlight of the game came courtesy of Steve Szymanski (LF), who fielded a line drive single on a hop, and threw a perfect strike to Sells at home plate to catch a Viking baserunner trying to score from second by a mile. Szymanski’s heroics kept the Hounds in the game and offered the Hounds the boost they needed to pull-off their late-inning comeback.

Following the game, the Hounds had a victory celebration at K’s Dugout, with many teammates, WAGs, and parents partaking in buckets of Miller High Life and pizza provided by generous sponsor, K’s Dugout.

The Hounds look to build on their two-game winning streak as they reconvene for a Sunday contest against the Marlins at Southwest Park.