ADAMS — Just when it looked like Grand Meadow/LeRoy/Ostrander/Kingsland was going to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the spring, the Southland baseball team showed why it is unbeaten this season in a game that was played with temperatures in the low 30s.

Southland’s No. 8 hitter Drew Loecher, who didn’t reach base on his first two at-bats, laced a two-out, two-run single down the right field line to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth and the Rebels went on to win 10-7 Monday.

“It was pretty good to help out the team and get the momentum rolling our way,” Loecher said. “We were all down (after GMLOK took a 7-5 lead on a three-run homer by Marshall Oeltjen), but we knew we had to pick ourselves up and just continue on.”

After Loecher’s single made it 7-7, GMLOK freshman pitcher Trenton Bleifus walked the next four hitters he faced. Lukas Anderson drew the walk that gave Southland the lead for good.

“It kind of fell together for us tonight on a night that was pretty ugly,” Southland head coach Scott Retterath said. “When it’s this cold, it’s extremely tough for everybody, but you’ve got to play the game.”

GMLOK (2-7 overall) got off to a fast start as Alan McCaulley singled in two runs in a three-run first inning.

But the Rebels (8-0 overall, 8-0 Three Rivers) were quick to respond with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first as Tyler Kressin beat out a throw off a bobbled ball in the infield to score a run and make it 3-3.

“It was pretty numb out there and it was pretty tough to get going,” Kressin said. “(Their fast start) got us motivated and we weren’t going to roll over to this team.”

GMLOK’s Caleb Leichtnam stole his fourth base of the game when he stole home in the second inning to make it 4-3, but things took a turn in Southland’s favor after another steal attempt in the fourth inning.

Leichtnam singled to start the frame, but he was thrown out by Anderson on a steal attempt — the first time he has been caught stealing in 17 tries this season.

“(Leichtnam) is a good ball player and he’s fast,” Retterath said. “I think (catching him stealing) put a little momentum in our favor. Every one on their bench is saying ‘wow, he just got thrown out.’”

Anderson also got it done with his bat as he singled in a run with two outs to give Southland a 5-4 lead in the fourth inning.

Kressin gave the Bulldogs problems with his speed all day long as he beat out an infield single in the third to score a run, stole two bases and he doubled and scored in the sixth.

“I just go 110 percent every time I hit the ball, no matter where it’s at. I just have a feeling that there’s a chance I can get on,” Kressin said.

There is one thing Kressin, a junior, would like to work on. He’d like to learn how to rattle pitchers with his lead from first.

“I’ll have to get some help with Alan May with that, he’s kind of a natural at that and I’ll be taking lessons from him pretty soon,” Kressin said.

Adam Kiefer struck out 14 in the win for Southland.

GMLOK 3 1 0 0 3 0 0 — 7 8 1

Southland 3 0 1 1 5 1 X — 10 10 2

Southland pitching: Adam Kiefer (W), 7 IP, 8 H, 2 BB, 7 ER, 14 K

Southland hitting: Alan May, 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 SB, 2 BBs; Lukas Anderson, 1-for-2, 2 RBIs, 2 BBs; Trevor Emanuel, 1-for-3, 2 RBIs, R, BB; Josh Landherr, 1-for-4, double, RBI, R; Kiefer, 1-for-3, R, BB; Tyler Kressin, 2-for-3, double, RBI, 2 R, BB, SB; Logan Vlasaty, 0-for-4; Drew Loecher, 2-for-4, 3 RBIs, R, SB; Dylan Heimer, 0-for-1; Ezra Smith, 0-for-1, R, BB

GMLOK pitching: Sam Eberle, 3 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 K; Trenton Bleifus (L), 1 2/3 IP, 5 H, 5 BB, 6 ER, 1 K; Caleb Leichtnam, 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 K

GMLOK hitting: Leichtnam, 3-for-4, 2 R, 4 SB; Lucas Roe, 1-for-3, R, SB, BB; Kirk Nelson, 0-for-3, BB; Alan McCaulley, 2-for-3, 2 RBIs, 2 R, 2 SB; Eberle, 1-for-4, R; Marshall Oeltjen, 2-for-3, HR, 4 RBIs, R, 2 SB, HBP; Perry Stejskal, 0-for-4; Mark Miller, 0-for-2; Bleifus, 0-for-3; Cody Snyder, SB; Dakota Johnson, 0-for-1