AID - The start was pretty good. The finish wasn't what they imagined.

After taking an early lead, the Symmes Valley Vikings were unable to hold onto their lead and lost 6-3 Monday to the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans.

The loss leaves the Vikings 7-3 on the season and 5-2 in the Southern Ohio Conference.

"Losing to Eastern and then this one, that makes it tough for us," Vikings coach John Patterson said. "We're still in the race, but there is no margin for error."

Notre Dame scored a run in the top of the first inning only to have the Vikings bounce back with three runs in the bottom of the frame.

Cory Burcham and Chad Artrip both walked with one out. Caleb Bland followed with a three-run home run.

The game remained 3-1 until the fifth inning when Notre Dame pushed across four unearned runs thanks to three Viking errors.

Notre Dame added an insurance run in the seventh inning.

Matt Mader picked up the win for the Titans as he struck out eight, walked five and allowed four hits. Burcham took the loss as he struck out three and did not walk a batter.

Bland and Artrip each went 1-2 while Matt Owens and Jesse Myers were 1-3.

Symmes Valley visits Portsmouth Clay Wednesday for a league game.

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Matt Mader and Schoettle. Cory Burcham and Justin Holland. W-Mader- (8-K, 5-W). L-Burcham (3-K, 0-W). 2B-PND:

Shoettle. HR-SV: Caleb Bland. Hitting-PND: Schoettle 1-3, Russell 2-4, Haas 1-4, Mader 1-3, Herpy 1-3, Estep 1-3, Saltsman 1-3, Diller 1-3; Symmes Valley: Matt Owens 1-3, Chad Artrip 1-2, Caleb Bland 1-2, Jesse Myers 1-3.