The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ill. – June 6, 2014 – It started as a pitcher’s duel as starting pitchers Dan Snyder and Keith Mahler were locked in a 0-0 tie heading to the top of the sixth inning.

The Michigan City Lakers scored first on a bases loaded walk by left fielder Nick Latham.   The Lakers defeated the Northwest Indiana Oilmen 3-1. 

The Lakers scored in the top of the seventh inning on an error by the Oilmen by the shortstop Ryan Burvan.

The Oilmen were able to score in the bottom of the seventh inning on a RBI single by right fielder Jason Gasser after the Lakers had a throwing error, but Snyder was able to get out of the inning with only one run. 

The Oilmen continued to struggle offensively, scoring one run on three hits.

The Lakers added another insurance run in the top of the eighth inning to boost the lead to 3-1.

To start the eighth inning, the Lakers called upon pitcher Will Rudolphi to finish the game. Rudolphi got a 1-2-3 eighth inning, leaving the Lakers three outs away to defeat the Oilmen.

Rudolphi came out to pitch the ninth inning as well facing the heart of the Oilmen just needing three outs to pick up the save for the Lakers. The inning started out well for the Oilmen as Kevin DeFilippis started with a walk. Gasser would be ahead 3-0 on the count, but Rudolphi fought back to a full count and got Gasser to fly out to the third basemen Garrett Walter.

Rudolphi then threw two straight strikeouts to Nate Schneider and Zack Jones to pick up the save and seal the victory for the Lakers.  The Lakers improve to 5-3 with the win, and the Oilmen fall to 3-4 with the loss.

“It is a long season the team will regroup and get back out there again and get better,” manager Justin Huisman said. “Mahler’s last two starts have been really good for us can’t ask for much more.”

Mahler was forced with, but took the loss after going six strong innings only allowing one run as the Oilmen were not able to get much run support for their pitcher.

The next Oilmen game is Saturday as the team travels to Michigan City to take on the Lakers. The next home game for the Oilmen will be Tuesday, June 10 as the teams faces the Illinois Sparks.