The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Sugar Grove, Ill. – July 19, 2013 – The Northwest Indiana Oilmen took advantage of six Zephyrs errors on Friday night at Waubonsee Community College and turned the game around with four runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth on their way to a 10-4 pounding of Chicago. 

The game was called due to darkness in the top of the seventh inning.  The Oilmen led 11-4 at the time play was suspended, but the run they scored in the seventh was wiped out since the inning was not completed.

The Zephyrs jumped out to the lead with two runs in the first against NWI starter Michael Steensen, who did not allow another run until Chicago plated two more in the fifth. Steensen walked five but recorded seven strikeouts and notched the win. 

The Zephyrs defense collapsed in the fourth inning as they committed four errors in the frame, two of which came on the same play as right fielder Zack Copple missed a Leiff Clarkson fly ball and committed a throwing error that allowed two runs to score.

Nick Bartolone enjoyed a three hit day and drove in two runs to boost his season total to a league-leading 31.  Zephyrs starter Josh DeGraaf suffered the loss after allowing five runs, only one of which was earned, in four innings.  Reliever Jeremy Karasewski was tagged for five runs, four of which were earned, in two-thirds of an inning.  The game took two hours, 19 minutes to complete despite being only six innings in length.

The Oilmen had fallen 8-1 to Chicago on Wednesday and dropped three of the last four overall before bouncing back on Friday night to improve to 22-12, 16-11 against Midwest Collegiate League opponents.  The Zephyrs plummet to 4-16 with the loss.  After an off day on Saturday, the Oilmen head right back Sugar Grove for a Sunday double header against Chicago with game one slated to start at noon.