AID — When things go bad, the Symmes Valley Vikings don’t seem to worry.

Despite a shaky start, the Vikings battled back and beat the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans 9-8 in nine innings on Tuesday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“That was our worst defensive game all year. But we battled back and showed a lot of heart. I was proud of them. They fought all the way to the end,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe.

Notre Dame scored five times in the top of the third and the Vikings came back with two run in the bottom of the inning.

Ethan Wilson single, Robbie Powell and Cody Bland walked and Jeremy Hatfield had a two-run single.

The Titans scored twice in the fifth only to have the Vikings to score three in their half of the frame when Bland singled, Hatfield walked and Luke Taylor cranked a three-run homer.

The Vikings tied the game with two runs in the sixth inning.

Dusty Wilson doubled, Ethan Wilson was hit by a pitch, a passed ball moved the runners up and a throwing error scored a run. Powell then singled for the second run.

Notre Dame took the lead with a run in the top of the nine but left the bases loaded.

“J.J. (Huff) came in and gave us three strong innings. Robbie (Powell) came back in and got out of a bases-loaded jam,” said Renfroe.

The Titans weren’t as fortunate as the Vikings scored twice in the bottom of the ninth.

With one out, Bland and Hatfield doubled to tie the game and Taylor had a single to drive in the winning run.

Symmes Valley (8-1, 6-0) visits Western on Wednesday.

Notre Dame 005 020 001 = 8 9 2

Sym. Valley 002 032 002 = 9 9 4

Brock Hannah, Kevin Delabar (6) and Staker. Robbie Powell, J.J. Huff (5), Powell (9) and Cody Myers. W-Powell (7-K, 1-BB, 7-H, 5-ER). L-Delabar. Huff 1-ER, 8-K, 3-BB, 2-H. 2B-SV: Cody Bland, Jeremy Hatfield, Dusty Wilson. 3B-ND: Tyler Noel. HR-SV: Luke Taylor. Hitting-ND: Aaron Noel 2-5, Tyler Noel 2-4, Staker 1-3, Brock Hannah 1-4, Brad Pierron 1-4, July 2-5; Symmes Valley: Tyler Easthom 1-3, Robbie Powell 1-4, Cody Bland 2-4, Jeremy Hatfield 2-4, Luke Taylor 2-5, Dustin Wilson 1-4, Cody Myers 1-4.