07/24/2014 10:06 AM -
TODAY'S GAMES: *Doubleheader*
Northwest Indiana Oilmen (23-16, 21-15)
at Joliet Admirals (9-29)
July 24, 2014 • 3 p.m. • Joliet, Ill.
Radio: None
Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com
For Starters
The Oilmen rounded out the home portion of the regular season on Wednesday night with a 7-1 loss to Southland. They now sit in fourth place in the Midwest Collegiate League standings entering Thursday’s doubleheader against the Admirals. The Oilmen went 14-10 at Oil City Stadium this season. The Vikings visited Oil City Stadium four times in July, winning those games by the combined score of 41-15. Since the All-Star Break, the Oilmen have scored four runs or fewer in nine of their 11 games, with the two games of scoring more than four runs both coming against the Zephyrs.
Inside the Oilmen
Two different Oilmen players notched much-needed hits in Wednesday’s game. Larry Crisler snapped an 0-for-29 slump with his seventh-inning single, his first hit in an MCL game since July 3. James Meeker ended an 0-for-15 stretch with two hits on Wednesday, including a run-scoring single in the fourth. Craig Dedelow and Jason Gasser have been the two most productive Oilmen at the plate this season. Gasser is hitting .324 with 17 runs batted in, while Dedelow has produced a .305 average and driven in 16 runs.
Inside the Admirals
The Admirals have been victimized by losing close ballgames this season. Their pitching staff has kept them in games, with Quinn Ahern holding a 2.89 ERA and Brock Borgeson posting a 2.51 ERA to guide the staff. The Admirals have only four players hitting above .225 this season. Joliet is coming off a dramatic upset victory over DuPage County on Wednesday night. Bill Chandler came through with a two-out, walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth, plating two runs and lifting the Admirals over the Hounds 4-3. The Admirals now have two victories over playoff teams this week after splitting a doubleheader with Lexington on Sunday.
About the Matchup
The Oilmen have taken five of the first six meetings with Joliet this season and hold a 15-2 all-time record against the Rockford/Joliet franchise. The Oilmen were originally scheduled to travel to Joliet on Thursday and Friday, but instead the two teams will play a doubleheader on Thursday and take Friday off. The last time the two squads met, the Oilmen pulled out a 2-1 victory in 11 innings on July 17.
Around the League
The Southland Vikings host Lexington in a doubleheader on Thursday with a chance to expand their ½ game lead over DuPage County. The Hounds have the day off. The Oilmen are a ½ game behind the Snipes for third place in the MCL, so the two doubleheaders taking place on Thursday present an opportunity for the Oilmen to climb to third in the standings.
Click "download attachment" to view a full PDF of Oilmen Game Notes.
