The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Five Unearned Runs Send NWI To First Playoff Loss

The Southland Vikings jumped on the board early with one run in the first, but two errors led to five unearned runs in the fifth and the eighth innings combined as the Oilmen lost 7-2 at home in Game 1 of the 2013 MCL Championship Series on Saturday.

 

Ty Hogan went 2-for-3 with both runs scored for NWI, but five Vikings finished with multiple hits, including Dan Potempa, who drove in three runs.

 

NWI also couldn’t solve winning pitcher Brandon White (1-0), who turned in eight innings of work including eight strikeouts and one walk. Andy Wellwerts (0-1), the winning pitcher in the clinching game of last year’s MCL Championship Series, took the loss.

 

The defeat was the fifth time the Vikings have beaten NWI this year, as well as the first time ever that the Oilmen have suffered a loss in the postseason.

 

“J-Mac” Attack, Part 2

With their season on the line tonight, the Oilmen will turn to their lefty ace Jimmy McNamara in Game 2. McNamara pitched seven innings to get the win in his lone playoff start this season, Game 1 against the Lexington Snipes on Tuesday. He has also made three previous starts against the Vikings, each lasting six innings, but each resulting in a no-decision. This will be his first start of the year on the road.

 

Overall, McNamara is unbeaten (5-0) with a 1.54 ERA, including a sparkling 1.18 mark in the regular season. The Oilmen have also lost just one of his eight starts this year- July 16 against the Vikings at home.