06/04/2015 10:16 AM -
THURSDAY’S GAME:
Northwest Indiana Oilmen (2-0)
at Joliet Admirals (1-2)
June 4, 2015 • 5 p.m. • Joliet, Ill.
Radio: None
Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com
Pitching Matchup
NWI's Brian Jestice (Evansville / Hoffman Estates, Ill.) vs. Joliet's David Schurr (St. Joseph's College / Plainfield, Ill.)
For Starters
The Oilmen are off to a 2-0 for the second consecutive year. Should Northwest Indiana prevail on Thursday, the team’s record would move to 3-0 for the first time in franchise history. Midwest Collegiate League all-time saves leader Matt Pobereyko didn’t pick up his second save until Game No. 5 last season. Oilmen closer Enrique Zamora has two saves through two games this year. Jordan Lewis rocketed a home run in the first inning on Wednesday in his first Oilman at-bat for the first NWI long ball of the year. Last season, the team’s first home run did not come until Game No. 8 at Michigan City. The first Oilmen home run in a league game last year did not take place until July 11 against Lexington.
Inside the Oilmen
The Oilmen turn to Evansville right-handed pitcher Brian Jestice to start Thursday’s game. Jestice appeared in 16 games for the Purple Aces this season, compiling a 2.96 ERA in 24 1/3 innings. Jestice will attempt to aid a spent Oilmen bullpen that has worked 14 innings through the first two games of the season. Northwest Indiana starters made early, injury-related exits in both of the first two games. Richard Yelnick is the only pitcher who has worked in both games, but he’s tossed just 32 pitches over three innings. Matt Dvorscak (55 pitches) and Sam Bell (47 pitches) are likely unavailable after working three innings each on Wednesday. Second baseman Brad Wood is day-to-day after leaving Wednesday’s game with an ankle injury. He is not expected to play on Thursday.
Inside the Admirals
Joliet will throw left-hander David Schurr, who did not see game action as a freshman this year at St. Joseph’s College. The Admirals are already participating in their fourth game of the season. They followed Monday’s loss to the Oilmen with a 7-4 triumph over Lexington on Tuesday, but fell 10-2 to DuPage County on Wednesday. Micah Coffey is off to a torrid start offensively with a .538 batting average (7-for-13). The Admirals are hitting .179 as a team with runners in scoring position.
About the Matchup
The Oilmen captured the first meeting of the year between the two teams 5-2 on Monday. They hold a commanding 17-3 lead in the all-time series with the Rockford/Joliet franchise. The Oilmen won six of the eight meetings against Joliet last season, the team’s first year since rebranding as the Admirals. After Thursday, the next meeting between the two teams will be on June 10, the home opener at Oil City Stadium.
Around the League
The DuPage County Hounds are batting .382 as a team and hold a team earned run average of 1.00 through two games. They have recorded a pair of lopsided victories, 7-2 over Michigan City and 10-2 over Joliet. The Hounds visit the Lexington Snipes on Thursday, while the Southland Vikings trek to Michigan City.
Click "download attachment" to view a PDF of complete game notes.
