The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. – June 17, 2014 – The Northwest Indiana Oilmen won their sixth straight game, defeating the Michigan City Lakers 5-3 on Tuesday night.

Dan Snyder was the starting pitcher for the Lakers. Snyder, who defeated the Oilmen back on June 6, pitched four innings and took the loss. Scott Jerge made his first start of the season.

The Oilmen struck first in the ballgame with two runs in the bottom of the second inning started by a sacrifice fly by first basemen Anthony Colosimo. The Oilmen were ahead 2-0 heading to the third as the team scored again on a bases-loaded walk by catcher Zack Jones.

“I was at the ballpark early to practice my hitting more to continue to improve,” Colosimo said. “I still have a lot to do, and it will get there with time.”

Colosimo was the Hoosier Bat Batter of the Game after he went 1-for-2 with a single, a sac fly, a walk and a run batted in.

The Oilmen would once again score in the fourth inning with RBI singles by shortstop Kevin DeFilippis, and right fielder Jason Gasser. That was all the scoring the Oilmen would get all game as it proved to be enough for the pitching staff.

Jerge went three innings in his start allowing only two hits, throwing one walk and three strikeouts.

“I felt confident, I was hitting my spots,” Jerge said. “I got ahead in counts a lot and was able to retire the batters.”

The Oilmen scored all five of their runs against Snyder on Tuesday after he threw seven one-run innings against them on June 6.

“We were rusty the first time and got him the second time around,” manager Justin Huisman said. “We were more patient this time and he was getting behind in counts a lot.”

There was not much offense going through the rest of the game as neither team scored from the bottom of the fifth until the top of the ninth.

Huisman called in the left-handed Munster graduate Anthony Gomez for the save opportunity.

The Lakers started a rally in the ninth inning as Gomez hit a batter to start the inning and then gave up a base hit. He got two quick outs, but Lakers responded with a two-out single to cut the lead down to two. Gomez got the third out in the ninth and was able to secure his first save of the season.

The Lakers outhit the Oilmen by 9-6, but what mattered was the scoreboard that the Oilmen won 5-3.

“We did OK and played how we always do,” Huisman said. “The pitching came out and did a good job.”

The Oilmen used five pitchers in the game as Andrew Lowe threw two innings, Andrew Jackson threw two innings and Aaron Glatt pitched one inning in middle relief. Jackson was the winning pitcher, earning his first victory as a member of the Oilmen.

The Oilmen are now 9-4 overall entering Wednesday’s game against Southland, which starts at Homewood-Flossmoor High School at 7:10 p.m. The Oilmen return home for Thirsty Thursday with $1 Miller Lite drafts, pop and water available at the concession stand during a game against the Chicago Zephyrs.