In a back and forth extra inning affair dominated by pitching, the Calgary Vipers scored last and won a 13-inning game 3-2 in Joliet against the JackHammers at Silver Cross Field. Four runs in total were scored in the first three and a half innings, but then the two teams combined to play the next eight and a half innings scoreless before Vipers veteran Carlos Duncan, who went three-for-six, brought in the eventual winning run to improve the team to 2-0 on the season. The game lasted a total of four hours and twelve minutes and was only two innings shy of tying the Vipers' franchise record for longest game at fifteen innings.

The Jackhammers did not take long pleasing the 4,275 crowd in attendence scoring in the bottom half of the opening frame on a Juan Diaz RBI ground out.

Calgary answered in the third when speedy Manabu Kuramochi stole second and third base before scoring on a fielding error.

Joliet however responded right back and retook the lead with a solo homerun by Diaz in the bottom half of the inning for his second RBI of the night.

The Vipers bounced right back though in the next inning tying the game with Duncan scoring on Jason Colson's first RBI of the season. Colson went three-for-five including a walk on the night.

The game stayed tied 2-2 all the way until the top of the 13th when Kuramochi reached via a walk, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and then Duncan drove in his third run in two nights giving Calgary the lead.

Phil Sobkow got the start for Calgary and pitched a solid six innings giving up just the two earned runs while striking out five. The bullpen was extremly impressive as Randy Waite, Ryan Olson, Tom Lyons, and Geoff Freeborn combined for four innings of shutout baseball giving up just one hit. Kazuaki Minami then came in and pitched the final three innings while striking out four to pick up his first win in North America.

This is nothing new for the Vipers as last season the Snakes had the best record in the Northern League in extra inning games at 6-3.

The four game series continues against Joliet on Saturday night at 6:05 PM (MDT) and then concludes Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm (MDT). All games can be heard online at www.am770chqr.com.

The home opener at newly refurbished Foothills Stadium is set for Friday, May 25 when the Vipers will celebrate the 100th anniversary of professional baseball in Alberta.