06/05/2015 6:10 PM -
SATURDAY’S Game:
Northwest Indiana Oilmen (3-1)
at DuPage County Hounds (4-0)
June 6, 2015 • 1 p.m. • Lemont, Ill.
Radio: AM 1230 WJOB
Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com
Pitching Matchup
NWI's Jimmy Skiff (Purdue Calumet / Dyer, Ind.) v. DuPage County's Tyler Jandron (UW Parkside)
For Starters
When the Oilmen took the field in Joliet on Thursday, the game-time temperature was 81 degrees. The game-time temperature in Michigan City on Friday was 51. The Oilmen have scored exactly five runs in each of their four games this season. The Oilmen have committed at least one error in every game this year, including three on Friday in Michigan City. Zack Jones snapped an 0-for-9 start to the season with two hits on Friday.
Inside the Oilmen
After starts of six-plus innings in length by Brian Jestice and Christian Howell, the Oilmen bullpen has received some much needed rest. Jordan Lewis is likely unavailable Saturday after throwing 37 pitches on Friday and 29 on Thursday. However, the rest of the bullpen is in good shape entering Saturday’s game. Eastern Illinois left-hander Hunter Clark is expected to join the team, with Matt Dvorscak, Sam Bell, Richard Yelnick and Enrique Zamora also available in relief. Saturday’s starting pitcher is Jimmy Skiff, who went 1-4 with a 6.46 ERA in 10 games and seven starts at Purdue Calumet this spring. Skiff pitched an inning of relief in the season opener at Joliet on Monday, when he retired the side in order.
Inside the Hounds
The Hounds are the last remaining undefeated team in the Midwest Collegiate League. They nipped the Lexington Snipes 1-0 on Friday as a run-scoring single by Dustin Krob in the fourth inning held up as the lone run of the game. Nick Alfini tossed a two-hit gem, going seven scoreless innings to garner the win. The Hounds getting off to a strong start is nothing out of the ordinary. They rapped off seven consecutive wins to start the 2014 season. DuPage sends Wisconsin Parkside lefty Tyler Jandron to the hill on Saturday. He went 2-3 with a 4.94 ERA in nine games (eight starts) for the Rangers this spring.
About the Matchup
The Hounds are one of two opponents that the Oilmen have a sub-.500 all-time record against. NWI is 11-14 against the Hounds, including a 2-8 record last season. The Oilmen will seek to avenge a two-game DuPage County sweep that occurred in the first round of last year’s MCL playoffs. NWI went 0-5 in Lisle last year. This marks the first time the Oilmen have ever played at the Lemont High School Sport Complex.
Around the MCL
The Southland Vikings made it back-to-back wins by topping Joliet 7-4 on Friday. The Vikings host Michigan City on Saturday is a game that has been pushed back to 5 p.m. at Hap Bruno Field. Joliet has Saturday off, while Lexington competes in a nonleague doubleheader with the Quad City 76ers.
Click "download attachment" to view full game notes.
