LANSING | Illiana Christian coach Dan Gibson is hoping his team gets things together in its last two games before entering the postseason.
After blowing a lead on Wednesday at Glenbard South, the Vikings got off to slow start on Thursday in a 3-0 Metro Suburban loss to the Raiders.
The Vikings (22-10, 13-5) dropped their third consecutive game to the Raiders (23-9, 15-3) and it was just the second time the Vikings were shut out this year. Riverside-Brookfield blanked Illiana 1-0 on April 27. Illiana plays Evergreen Park tonight at Standard Bank Stadium and T.F. South on Saturday night at the Lansing Sports Complex in the "Battle of Lansing."
"I was a little disappointed with the lack of energy we had out there," Gibson said. "I know this game didn't mean anything, but you have to come out and be ready to play."
Two first-inning errors helped give Glenbard South a 2-0 lead. Doren Blake's third-inning solo homer ended the scoring. Illiana had its chances, but stranded eight runners on the day, something that Gibson did not let go unnoticed. Its leadoff man did not reach once.
"It seems like every time we got someone on, there was one or two outs," Gibson said. "That made it a little difficult to get something going."
He also mixed up his lineup to give some regulars, who are hurting, a break.
"We need to put pitching, defense and our offense together for the postseason," Gibson said. "We have not been able to do that lately and we have to have all three if we are to be successful."
Illiana's Kyle Van Kalken had two hits.
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