The Will County CrackerJacks took an extra-innings thriller over the Southland Vikings on Friday night at home to slide back into first place in the Midwest Collegiate League.

After a pitcher’s duel through the first nine innings of play, the ‘Jacks won in weird, walk off fashion to take a decisive 4-3 victory, evening the season series with the Vikings to 3-3 in the process.

Vikings starting pitcher Chris Chigas was finally relieved of work in the home half of the tenth inning after giving up a leadoff double to Daniel Nevares. The next pitch saw designated hitter Shaun McGraw lay down what was to be a sacrifice bunt. Instead, new Vikings pitcher Jonathan Rosario threw the ball low to Viking’s first baseman Chris Stevens, glancing off his glove and allowing Nevares to come around to score the winning run.

CrackerJacks starter Ben Gullo turned in a herculean effort for the home side, throwing 9 2/3 innings of 5-hit ball, yielding 3 runs before turning the ball over to reliever Austin Dunfee, who finished the tenth and earned his second win of the season. Both Gullo and Vikings starter Chris Chigas had been effective all game, creating a pitcher’s duel through the first nine innings.

After four scoreless innings of play, the Vikings broke through first. Third baseman James Dawson singled to lead off the frame, advanced to second base on the sacrifice of A.J. Doyle and scored on Damon Saunders’ two out single off of Ben Gullo.

The CrackerJacks responded in turn in the bottom half of the inning. Eric Esquilin reached on an error to begin to the inning, then came around to score on an RBI-groundout by Jake Thomas.

The Jacks took the lead in the home half of the sixth inning. Three straight singles from the heart of the order, followed by a two-out error by Vikings first baseman Chris Stevens on a groundball by Jake O’Brien plated Daniel Nevares,who scored the go-ahead run.

A leadoff walk came back to haunt Gullo in the top half of the 8^th inning. Vikings catcher Vince Parisi walked and came around to score on a one-out triple from centerfielder Elliot Armstrong, who scored on a sacrifice fly on the next pitch to put the Vikings ahead 3-2.

The Jacks responded quickly again, with Scott Hull and Esquilin recording back to back singles. Hull scored on a throwing error from Vikings right fielder Damon Saunders, tying up the score at 3-3 in the process.

With the win, Will County improved to 20-11 on the season and 5-6 at home, while the Vikings fell to 13-17. The two teams will square off again on Sunday, beginning at 2:00 p.m. when they meet at Brennan Field once more.

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