Horneman Homer Helps Oilmen To 6-5 Win Jake Ostrowski walked and scored a run in the win Chicago Ill.- Playing in a day game during a holiday weekend the Northwest Indiana Oilmen offense was hoping to send the team into a two day break on a high note against the Chicago American Giants. Colin Horneman (Saint John/Lincoln Trail) provided that spark in a big way, launching his first homerun in an Oilmen uniform to kickstart a game that the team would win 6-5. Horneman’s two run blast in the second inning helped the visitors from Northwest Indiana tie the game at two runs apiece. "He broke up a string of innings where we really didn’t hit anything hard. That was one of the first balls we really squared up and got off the ground. That really collectively took the pressure off of everyone.” Oilmen Manager Adam Enright said. The offense wouldn’t stop there as in the seventh inning they added four runs in a frame that saw every batter in the lineup make a plate appearance. Caleb Deel (Gary/ Lake Eerie) and Tylor Phommachanhom (Joliet/ Dayton) each walked with the bases loaded to send in runs then Nico Bermeo knocked in a pair of runs with a single. The six runs would prove to be enough as a late rally from the American Giants came up short. The Oilmen pitching staff received a huge boost in the form of a start from Frank Quinn (Chicago/ Saint Ambrose) that saw him go six innings striking out seven and allowing one earned run on a home run. The long ball in the fourth inning would not disrupt the solid start from the right hander. “After the home run we just talked about not living only away from hitters and showing more command on both sides of the plate so that they would have to cover more space in the strike zone east to west.” Enright said. Tyler Priessing (Mount Prospect/ Aurora) provided the save in the ninth inning to lock down the win for the Oilmen. NWI Will enjoy a couple of off days before picking things back up on Tuesday against the American Giants at 5:00 P.M. at Illinois Tech. The broadcast of that matchup will be carried across all platforms of the Oilmen Broadcasting Network. |