MILWAUKEE- Playing its third straight game this week, it would be understandable that Wisconsin Lutheran might roll over after surrendering a four run lead.

There was no quitting for the Vikings, just ask freshman catcher Dave Henke who hit a bases-clearing triple in the top of the seventh inning to erase a oneun deficit and turn it into a 12-10 Wisconsin Little Ten Conference advantage.

The Vikings held on to beat Milwaukee Lutheran 12-10 Thursday afternoon.

“This is huge for us,” said Wisconsin Lutheran coach Andre Gosch. “We have struggled the first two weeks of the season.”

The Vikings (1-2, 2-5,) built a solid lead in the fifth inning. After the Red Knights intentionally walked Jesse Stamard to load the bases, teammate Cory Henne made them pay. Well, sort of.

Henne hit a towering fly ball to deep center field that was misplayed by and allowed two runs to score. Stamard scored on a Tim Filter ground out giving the Vikings a commanding 9-3 lead.

“We were more aggressive as a team this time around,” said Henne who saw his team fall to the Red Knights just two days ago.

The Vikings were looking for more in the sixth inning but a costly base running mistake cost Wisconsin Lutheran a run.

After looking strong through the first five innings, Vikings pitcher Marcus Raclue ran into trouble early in the sixth inning after walking two straight Red Knights batters.

“It was definitely Marcus’ best outing of the year until that point,” said Gosch. “He got tired toward the end because he had not really thrown that many pitches so far this year.”

The Red Knights (3-1, 4-1) loaded the bases and were sending one of the states best hitters to the plate in Adam Walker. Walker wasted no time as he hammered the first pitch he saw to deep centerfield for a bases-clearing triple.

“What can you do? The kid hit some really good pitches,” said Gosch.

The Red Knights would add two more runs to take a slim 10-9 lead into the seventh.

The Red Knights looked to Matt Scasny for one more inning after getting out of a jam in the sixth. It would not come easy as he would have to face the heart of the Vikings line-up.

After walking Stamard, Scasny got two straight outs. Andrew Rumbler popped up a fastball for what appeared to be the final out, but somehow fell between three Red Knights infielders.

“I told them that we have to play all seven innings,” said Red Knight coach Bob Heinkel.

The Vikings showed no mercy as Nolan McShane drew a walk to load the bases for freshman Dave Henke.

 Down to his final strike, Henke ripped a triple down the right field line and cleared the bases giving the Vikings the 12-10 lead and ultimately the win.

“It was definitely a big hit for us, but I have to thank my teammates for getting me into that position,” said Henke. “Our coaches tell us all the time to look for the right pitch and I did.”

Notes: Adam Walker hit his first homerun of the year in the first inning, he will attend Jackson University next year. The Vikings went without a hit until the fourth inning but managed five runs in that time.

WISCONSIN LUTHERAN…..112 230 3—12 6 2

MILWAUKEE LUTHERAN….201 016 0—10 10 4

Pitching: ML—Adam Walker (2 IP, 3 K, 5BB) C.J. Selner (2 IP, 3 K, IBB) Colin Smith (1IP, 2BB, 2K) Mat Scasny (L, 1P, 1K 2BB) WL— Marcus Raclue (5 2/3 IP 4BB 6K) Tim Rotruck (W,1 1/3 IP, 3BB, 1K) Cory Henne (1IP, 1K)

Leading Hitters: ML—Adam Walker 2X5 (HR, 3B, 5RBI) Matt Scasny 2X4 (2B 2 RBI) WL: Henke 1X2 (3B, 3RBI)