The Lake County Corn Dogs have won in every Northern League ballpark this season, except for Dowling Park where the Southland Vikings call home. Thursday (June 30) was the Corn Dogs’ fourth visit to Hammond this season after dropping three games there. The Vikings came into the game four games behind the Corn Dogs in the standings, winning seven of their last 10 games.
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The Corn Dogs didn’t waste any time jumping on the Vikings. Jake Ferry clobbered his third home run in his last four games to score the first run, Doug Loden hit another two batters later and made it 3-0. The Corn Dogs scored one more from a sac fly.
The game would be all Lake County after this. Loden, Tyler Schultz and Danny Puplava all would leave the yard and set a new franchise record for most home runs in a game. Loden hit his seventh long ball on the season, which ties the Northern League record. It was Loden’s second two-home run game of the year.
Corn Dogs offense gets carried away
The Corn Dogs scored a franchise record 24 runs, on 23 hits, as every player that was in the lineup got a hit and an RBI. Roman Kuntz and Schultz each had four hits.
The pitching also was fantastic. Ryan Troxel started the game and went five innings, allowing just two hits, one walk, no runs and striking out five. Troxel extended his scoreless streak to 23.2 innings this season. Brock Bevil and Dylan Matusak would keep the shutout intact, as the Corn Dogs tossed their sixth shutout this season. The team ERA is a 2.84, best in the league.
Lake County’s fourth consecutive win moves them to 20-7 on the season and five games over the Vikings and Oilmen. The Corn Dogs close out the week Friday in Whiting with a game against the Oilmen. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m.