06/29/2014 6:00 AM -
TONIGHT'S GAME:
Lexington Snipes (12-8)
at Northwest Indiana Oilmen (14-8, 12-7)
July 3, 2014 • 5:30 p.m. • Lexington, Ill.
Radio: None
Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com
For Starters
The Oilmen are attempting to bounce back from a 14-8 loss to the Southland Vikings on Tuesday night. The Oilmen offense has pounded out 26 runs on 33 hits over the last two games. Entering Tuesday’s game, there had only been one home run out of Oil City Stadium all season. The Vikings produced three home runs on Tuesday, two by Dan Potempa and one by Bobby Sheppard. The 23 Southland hits on Tuesday were the most hits the Oilmen have allowed in a nine-inning game in team history. Northwest Indiana also surrendered 23 hits on June 30, 2013 in a 13-12, 15-inning loss to DuPage. The eight runs were also the most the Oilmen have scored in a defeat since June 30, 2013.
Inside the Oilmen
Nate Schneider has boosted his average from .265 to .313 over the course of the last four games. The Western Michigan Bronco holds a six-game hitting streak and has recorded back-to-back multi-hit games. Munster graduate Craig Dedelow has Northwest Indiana’s highest on-base percentage at .431 and batting average at .378. Larry Crisler had four hits in Tuesday’s game and came to the plate in the eighth inning with a chance for a five-hit day, but struck out. Only two players in Oilmen history have recorded five hits in a single game.
Inside the Snipes
The Snipes had a seven-game winning streak snapped in their most recent Midwest Collegiate League game, which was a 10-3 loss on Sunday against Southland. Eric Phillis (.397) and Chris Maranto (.348) have been two of Lexington’s most productive offensive players, while Adam Casson leads the MCL in home runs with five. The Snipes have a highest team on-base percentage in the league at .398 and rank first in runs scored with 118.
About the Matchup
This is the fourth meeting of the year between the Oilmen and Snipes and the first time the two teams have hooked up since June 15. The home team has won each of the first three games of the season series. The Oilmen won the most recent meeting 6-3 at Oil City Stadium, but Northwest Indiana fell 17-5 on June 1, the last time it journeyed to High Desert Field in Lexington.
Around the Midwest Collegiate League
The DuPage County Hounds have now dropped three of their last four including a 4-2 loss to Southland on Wednesday. The Hounds have only lost six games all season with four of those losses coming to the Southland Vikings. The Vikings are the hottest team in the league as they carry a four-game winning streak into Friday’s game against the Oilmen.
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