07/14/2014 11:12 AM -
TONIGHT'S GAME:
Northwest Indiana Oilmen (17-11, 15-10)
at Southland Vikings (16-10) Doubleheader
July 14, 2014 • 5:30 p.m. • Flossmoor, Ill.
Radio: None
Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com
For Starters
Rain has wreaked havoc seemingly whenever the Oilmen and Vikings have attempted to play one another this season. Monday was originally scheduled to be an off day for both teams, but instead they will play a doubleheader to make up two games that were previously postponed by inclement weather. The Oilmen and Vikings were originally scheduled to meet on Wednesday, June 11 at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, but that game was postponed until June 30. The June 18 scheduled meeting was postponed until July 14. The make-up game on June 30 was also rained out and rescheduled for July 14, creating Monday’s twin bill. This will be the first doubleheader played by the Oilmen this year with two others scheduled for the final two weeks of the regular season.
Inside the Oilmen
The Oilmen will look to get back on track on Monday following a 5-3 loss to DuPage County on Sunday night. Andrew Ray became the first player or coach in Oilmen history to be ejected from a game after a bench-clearing altercation that took place when DuPage’s Clayton Johannes barreled into Ray on a play at the plate. Starting pitcher Jimmy McNamara laid down an RBI bunt single in the first at-bat of his Oilmen career. Neither team scored after the fourth inning of Sunday’s game. The Oilmen bullpen put together one of its most effective games of the season as Scott Jerge, Andrew Jackson and Andrew Lowe combined for three scoreless innings. Nate Schneider’s 10-game hitting streak was snapped as he lifted a fly ball to right field as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. The Oilmen have lost six straight games at Benedictine University with their most recent road win against the Hounds coming on June 8, 2013.
Inside the Vikings
The Vikings have already played two doubleheaders this season, taking both games from Joliet on July 6 before dropping both ends of a double dip against Lexington on Sunday. Southland entered Sunday winners of 10 consecutive games, but fell to the Snipes 12-0 and 6-5. The Vikings will be playing a doubleheader for the second straight day. Few teams have found a way to slow down the Southland offense as of late. The Vikings scored 107 runs in nine games leading up to the All-Star Break.
About the Matchup
The Oilmen dominated the head-to-head matchups with Southland in the month of June, but the tides have turned thus far in July. The Oilmen defeated the Vikings on June 3, 12 and 23, but Southland came to Oil City Stadium and picked up victories on July 1, 4 and 5. The most recent meeting was a lopsided 13-3 affair on July 5. The Vikings hold a 15-13 lead in the all-time series between the two teams. After Monday, the Oilmen and Vikings will have one additional regular season meeting, Wednesday, June 23 at Oil City Stadium.
Around the MCL
The Oilmen find themselves in fourth place in the Midwest Collegiate League standings. The top four teams in the standings are all within four games of one another, meaning the race for home-field advantage and first-round playoff matchups will be tightly contested over the next two weeks. The Oilmen are only a half of a game behind Southland and Lexington, who are tied for second.
Click "download attachment" to view a full PDF of Oilmen Game Notes
