By: Kasey Salamie
Southland Vikings Contributor
 
Whiting, Indiana— The Foresters won game one in dramatic fashion. The Vikings were in a win or go home elimination game on Wednesday night against the Rockford Foresters in game two of the Midwest Collegiate League playoffs.
 
Viking’s ace Aaron Hauge put the team on his back and pitched an incredible game. You knew it was going to be a special game when Hauge recorded ten strikeouts through the first five innings.
 
Hauge pitched a complete game while recording eighteen strikeouts, allowing only one earned run, and walking one batter. Eighteen strikeouts is a season high for Hauge and could not have come at a better time for the Vikings. He allowed a homerun in the first and after that it was over. Hauge (5-2) was successful because he was getting ahead of hitters and spotting his curveball and changeup. He got stronger and more difficult to hit as the game progressed. It was an amazing performance to watch him be just as effective on his final 137th pitch of the ball game as he was on the 1st pitch of the game.
 
“I felt really good out there tonight,” said Hauge. “I really wanted to beat the Foresters to force a game three. I basically just tried to stay ahead of the hitters and mix in my off-speed when I needed to. I give a lot of credit to my team. They made some nice plays behind me and came up with some big hits.”
 
Elliot Armstrong played a crucial role in this game. Armstrong had two clutch hits in this game including the game winning hit. Armstrong ended the game with two hits and four at bats with two RBI’s. Kevin Kaczmarski also played a big role in getting on base ahead of Armstrong to score on each of his hits.
 
“I’m glad to help my team win. We really stepped up as a team in this game. Kevin (Kaczmarski) did a great job getting on base ahead of me,” said Armstrong.
 
Vikings manager Chris Cunningham was impressed with his team’s victory. “Hauge was unbelievable tonight. When a guy strikeouts eighteen hitters you know he is filthy. Elliot and Kevin were huge for us tonight too,” said Cunningham.
 
Game three will be on Thursday night at 7 PM in Rockford. The winner of game three will take on the Will County CrackerJacks on Friday.