Riddled with sloppy defensive play, the baseball team lost to the B-CC Barons 6-5, April 10.

After the loss, the Vikings’ record fell to 3-3 while the Barons’ record improved to 5-2.

The Vikes made a season-high six errors, some late into a close game. As a result, five of B-CC’s six runs were unearned.

After being down 3-0 early into the game, the Vikings’ bats finally came alive. They started chipping away the Barons’ lead, scoring two runs in the fourth. Then during the bottom of the fifth, the Vikes started a crucial two-out rally, led by centerfielder Drew Aherne’s triple. In the next at-bat, third baseman Alex Clark drove Aherne home with a single.

Then, second baseman Ben Castagnetti hit a shot over the right fielder’s glove, ending up with an inside-the-park homerun, putting the Vikes up 5-3.

The Vikings kept the lead through the sixth inning and had a chance to close out the game in the top of the seventh. With two outs in the top of the inning, B-CC had runners on first and second. Then, third baseman Ben Allen hit a fly ball into right field. Outfielder Daniel Clayton misplayed the ball after losing it in the lights and both runners scored with Allen ending up on third base.

The Vikes needed another comeback in the bottom of the seventh, but even though Aherne was intentionally walked with two outs, the Vikings couldn’t bring him home.

“We finally started hitting,” pitcher Alex Lesley said. “But our defense lost us the game.”

The Vikes hope to put the game behind them, when they play Blake away on Friday.