Maybe the Viking luck is starting to change.

After turning several possible wins into losses with late-inning collapses, the Union Pines baseball team recorded its second straight blowout win Friday night.

The Vikes pounded Western Harnett, 10-0, making it back-to-back games with double-digit runs scored.

"To put double digits on the board in consecutive games," said Vike head coach Chad Hill, "and earn our first two-game winning streak of the year is very big for the team at this point in the season. You know, as a coach I can sit there and tell my guys they did a great job competing even when we lose, but until they actually get in the win column sometimes it is hard for that confidence to remain consistent or translate over to the next time out."

Viking senior starting pitcher Nevin Wilson turned in a complete-game one hit performance on the mound to shutdown the Eagles, while Union Pines' offense tallied 11 hits, swiped eight bases and had four walks.

"We played well over the last two games," Wilson said after the game, "and everybody is starting to come together as a team like we should be. We know realize that in order to win we have to work as a unit." We have to win to get in States, and that is our goal.

After manufacturing a run in the first with a leadoff single and two sacrifices, Vike freshman Nic Collins belted a solo-homer to right center, which gave Union Pines a 2-0 lead. It was the young catcher's first career varsity home run.

After losing late inning leads in three of its previous five Cape Fear Valley conference games, Collins feels that the team is starting to gel.

"This one feels good," said Collins. "Like Nevin said, we have just been pulling everything together as a team. This week in practice we have been working hard and taking good cuts. Throughout the year we have had awesome starting pitching but have failed to support that on offense by not producing timely hits when runners are in scoring position and with inconsistent defensive play.

"We have been playing really well for the most part all season, and in the games we have lost all but one have been close, so I still think we can put it all together and make a nice run in the second round of conference games."

Union Pines scored two runs on an single by senior right fielder Adam Harward in the fourth, and followed that with a six-run, six-hit fourth inning to take a 10-0 lead.

Vike batters who drove in runs during the frame included: Todd Collins (2); Terry Burge (2); Gabe Gonzalez and Clark Stout.

Justin Blackburn, the Vikings' leading hitter, went 2-for-3 and scored two runs.

With the win the Vikings are now 4-7 overall and 2-5 in the conference.

Hill was very encouraged after the game with his team's overall approach at the plate and on the base paths.

"We ran the bases really well tonight and just put the ball in play," he said. "We have been trying to stress all year the fact that if we can consistently put the ball in play and force the other team to make plays and throws, then we like our chances night in and night out. We certainly did it today and it worked in our favor."

Union Pines' next game is a CFV contest 7 p.m. Monday in Spring Lake, when it battles the Overhills Jaguars on Monday.

Contact F.W. Manning II at 639-5481 or by email at fwm2@nc.rr.com