Chicago, Ill.- June 8-  The MCL Minutemen were coming off of back to back wins, and looking to go on a three game win streak, but the Southland Vikings had plans of their own, to end their streak of losing.

After a physically and mentally demanding game last night against the Crestwood Panthers, the Minutemen (3-4) turned around to play the Vikings (3-4) for the first time this season. They were hungry for a win after losing two straight. The Minutemen lost 7-3 after the Vikings came out hot, scoring their seven runs in the first four innings. 

The team has now played seven games in the past eight days, and manager Deandre Gilmore believes that the Minutemen didn’t come out with enough energy. 

“I think a lot of the guys were tired. We came out flat. It was a hot one today and these guys were tired.It was a little too late when we tried to come back,” Gilmore said.

The Minutemen were able to keep up with the Vikings in the first inning, but couldn’t hang on as the runs kept coming. Gabe Cortez (Prairie State/ Tinley Park, Ill.) cracked a double out to right field in the first inning, allowing Mike Koszewski (Cincinnati/ Oak Brook, Ill.)to score which would tie the game at one apiece. In the third inning, Cortez was walked. After a series of hit bases, Cortez would come home for the second Minutemen run. By then, the score was 6-2. In the seventh inning, the Minutemen showed signs of life. Nick Semancik (Franklin/ Whiting, Ind.) and Koszewski led the inning off with base hits. Austin Velasquez (Quincy/ Lansing, Ill.)hits a grounder to second base. An error allowed Semancik to score the third run for the Minutemen. Just as they were building momentum, the game was over due to there being no lights at Prairie State College.

Another bright spot for the Minutemen was getting newly acquired pitcher Carter Anderson (Maryville/ Homewood, Ill.) some time at the mound in the fifth and sixth innings. He didn’t let up a single run, and only allowed one hit. Gilmore was pleased with Anderson’s first pitches for the Minutemen.

“It was good. I just wanted to give him some work. He was able to get out there and be successful,” Gilmore said.

Gilmore wants the team to come with more energy and rest for tomorrow’s game against the Panthers back at Riverside Park at 5:05 pm. Follow @MclMinutemen on Twitter to keep up with all the latest Minutemen news and updates, and follow @MCLMinutemen on Facebook to catch the live streams of every game.