Paly Vikings Baseball lost their season opener 10-3 to St. Ignatius after giving up seven runs in the last two innings of play.

The game started off with good pitching from both sides as both teams struggled to string together hits. Vikings’ starter Niko Lillios (‘18) put away St. Ignatius one two three in the top of the first on just five pitches.

The Vikings would put two men on in the bottom of the first including a single by Ben Cleasby but couldn’t score even with a runner on third and less than two outs.

In the top of the second St. Ignatius got on the board first scoring two runs. Lillios started off the inning with two free passes and SI was able to capitalize with some small ball and score without even getting a hit in the inning.

Lillios and the St. Ignatius starter would duel for a couple more innings before both being removed in the fifth. On a sacrifice fly St. Ignatius extended its lead to 3-0.

The Vikings saw the new St. Ignatius pitcher much better and rallied right away against him in the bottom of the fifth. Singles by Angus Stayte (‘17) and Ole Erickson (‘18) along with a couple of walks allowed Paly to tie the game 3-3.

Unfortunately for the Viking, the game seemed to spiral out of control in the sixth and seventh innings. St. Ignatius had already scored two when their shortstop hit a three-run home run. St. Ignatius would go on to win 10-3.

“Our team as a whole played well and we competed well throughout the game until the 6th inning,” Nathan Willis (‘18) said. “One inning and a few plays flipped the momentum and we struggled to get it back. No one is worried about this loss. We have missing pieces and guys out of position all over the field. Once everything falls into place and we start clicking, there is no doubt in my mind that we will be contending for a CCS championship in May.”

Vikings will look to bounce back this Saturday, the 25th, at home against Aragon at 12 o’clock.