AID -- Missing the seniors meant missing their offense.

The Symmes Valley senior trip was last week, and as a result the Vikings were missing several key players.

Despite the valiant efforts of those left behind, the Vikings fell 7-4 to the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

"With our seniors missing, we had to move some people around. We really miss the seniors' bats," Vikings coach John Patterson said.

The Titans took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the Vikings got a pair of runs in the second to tie the game.

Matt Owens singled, stole second and went to third on a passed ball. Michael Rice put down a squeeze bunt to score Owens.

Chase Higgins walked, moved up on a ground out, and Nathan Pinkerman singled in the tying run.

Notre Dame took a 3-2 lead in the third and scored four times in the fifth inning to extend the spread to 7-2.

Symmes Valley got a run back in the bottom of the fifth.

Chad Artrip was hit by a pitch, Caleb Bland singled and a passed ball scored Artrip.

The Vikings tried to rally in the seventh.

Artrip doubled and went to third on a ground out. Owens then hit a sacrifice fly to make it 7-4. But the next batter struck out to end the game.

Pinkerman went 3-for-3 and Bland 2-4 to lead the Vikings seven-hit attack.

Matt Mader got the win for the Titans while Cory Burcham took the loss.

Symmes Valley, 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the SOC, hosts Portsmouth Clay Monday in a conference game.

Notre Dame2010400--781

Sym. Valley0200101--474

Matt Mader and Schoehk. Cory Burcham and Justin Holland. W-Mader (4-K, 5-W). L-Burcham (1-K, 2-W). 2B-SV: Chad Artrip. HR-ND: Haft. Hitting-Notre Dame: Malone 2-4, Schoehk 2-4, Augustine 2-4; Symmes Valley: Chad Artrip 1-3, Caleb Bland 2-4, Matt Owens 1-3, Nathan Pinkerman 3-3.