Aaron Shultz’s double to shallow center in the fifth was just the nudge the 552nd Maintenance Squadron needed in the first game of Monday night’s intramural doubleheader against the Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron at Championship Field for a 12-11 win.

With a six-run deficit after the fourth, the Rangers needed intervention. With one out and a runner on, in stepped Matthew Michael, batting eighth, to connect for an RBI double, driving in Shultz and igniting a necessary rally cry.

VQ-4 made it look easy early on despite some hiccups. After dropping a routine pop fly in the top of the first, the Shadows built a wall with their defense to knock away four hits in the first two innings and hold the Rangers at one run. The floodgates were opened in the bottom of the third when Shadow’s Travon Limbrick smacked a hard hit to left. The onslought didn’t end until VQ-4’s Jose Mendez dribbled to Rangers’ second baseman for a throw-out at first retiring the inning leading by six.

The wall was later shattered in the top of the fifth when MXS’ Alex Roszkowski joined teammate’s Shultz and Michael to slam an RBI double and enter the sixth inning behind 10-11.

A line drive from MXS’ Jesse Dunsmore to right-center was grabbed by VQ-4 coach, David Starkey at center for a first out in the sixth. Damien De Bar, MXS’ fill-in coach power-hit to a hole in right-center for a double. Shultz delivered with a laborious RBI triple to left-center to tie the game, but the left fielder wasn’t feeling too comfortable at third. After a long drive to right-center was swatted down for the out, Shultz tagged up and out sprint the throw home to win the game in six innings.

The Shadows fell 2-3 after Monday’s initial game against the Rangers, who improved 4-1 going into the second of a doubleheader.

MXS/AGE had no stamina left with which to wrestle in game two — earning a steep 16-2 loss.

VQ-4 is scheduled to duel against the 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron June 26 at 5:30 p.m. on Field 1. 552nd MXS/AGE will play the Swingers on Field 1 the same day at 7:30 p.m. Both matchups will be doubleheaders.