07/12/2014 8:26 PM -
TONIGHT'S GAME:
Northwest Indiana Oilmen (17-10, 15-9)
at DuPage County Hounds (20-8)
July 13, 2014 • 6 p.m. • Lisle, Ill.
Radio: AM 1230 WJOB
Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com
For Starters
The Oilmen are coming off one of their most well-played games of the year, a sound 4-1 victory over Lexington on Friday night. Andrew Ray cracked the first home run by an Oilmen player out of Oil City Stadium this season. The last Oilmen player to homer out of Oil City Stadium before Ray’s blast on Friday was Kenny Mahala on July 22, 2013. Nick Nauracy tossed seven solid innings, allowing one run on seven hits while striking out seven and walking none. He earned the victory to improve to 3-2. James Meeker, Rob Blissitt and Nate Schneider had two hits each. Schneider’s fifth-inning double extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Matt Pobereyko nailed down his ninth save by striking out three of the four Snipes he faced in the ninth inning. Pobereyko has 26 strikeouts in only 14 1/3 innings this season, for a strikeouts per nine innings ratio of 16.326. Opposing hitters are batting only .125 against Pobereyko this season.
Inside the Oilmen
After playing in 10 consecutive lopsided games, the Oilmen finally participated in a tightly-contested contest on Friday night. Scoring the first run of a game has been critical for the Oilmen this season. They are now 15-1 when scoring first and 2-9 when the opposition strikes first. The Oilmen now sit in third place in the Midwest Collegiate League standings, with the top four teams advancing to the postseason. The Oilmen hold a 9.5 game lead over fifth place Joliet. The top four teams will jockey for playoff positioning down the stretch with the first and second place teams securing home-field advantage in the opening round of the postseason.
Inside the Hounds
The DuPage County Hounds are a team – like the Oilmen – that does not hit for much power. The Hounds have only four home runs all season, but their offense relies on its speed to score runs. The Hounds lead the league in triples with 16 and stolen bases with 88. The Oilmen rank second in the league in stolen bases with 42. Richie Gorski is the league leader in swiped bags with 15, while Connor Kopach ranks second with 13. The only other players in the league with double-figure stolen base totals are also Hounds: Emerson Misch (11) and Stewart Nelson (11).
About the Matchup
The Oilmen and Hounds are set to meet for the first time since June 27, a 5-0 Oilmen victory at Oil City Stadium. The Hounds hold a 3-1 advantage in the season series, while the Oilmen lead the all-time set 10-9. The Oilmen and Hounds were scheduled to play on Saturday night at Oil City Stadium, but that game was postponed and rescheduled for Tuesday.
Around the League
The entire Midwest Collegiate League slate of games on Saturday was postponed by rain. The Snipes and Vikings will play a doubleheader on Sunday at High Desert Field – two games that Hounds and Oilmen fans will have their eyes on as the race for home field advantage in the playoffs heats up. In addition, the Admirals meet the Zephyrs on Sunday at Waubonsee Community College.
Click "download attachment" to view a full PDF of Oilmen Game Notes
