06/11/2015 1:24 PM -
THURSDAY’S Game:
DuPage County Hounds (5-1)
at Northwest Indiana Oilmen (5-2)
June 11, 2015 • 7:10 p.m. • Whiting, Ind.
Radio: AM 1230 WJOB
Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com
Inside the Oilmen
NWI's Enrique Zamora (Calumet College / Hammond, Ind.) v. Tom Concklin (Washington and Lee)
For Starters
For the third consecutive year, the home opener at Oil City Stadium was impacted by weather. This time, however, the Oilmen were able to get the game in after a delay of 1 hour, 22 minutes. The Oilmen fell in their home opener for the third time in four years, this time losing 7-6 to Joliet in 10 innings. Northwest Indiana drops to 3-7 all-time in extra-inning games.
Inside the Oilmen
The Oilmen will attempt to get back on track as they send Enrique Zamora to the mound for Thursday’s game. Adam Enright said before the season that he hoped to use Zamora as his closer, if they could afford to not start him. The state of the Oilmen pitching staff has necessitated a move to the starting rotation for Zamora, at least for the time being. He has made three appearances and has nailed down two saves. He has allowed only one hit and no walks this season. Zamora went 4-5 with a 3.81 ERA while striking out 63 and issuing 35 walks this spring at Calumet College. The Oilmen have scored five runs or more in each of the first seven games this season.
Inside the Hounds
With Northwest Indiana’s loss to Joliet on Wednesday, DuPage County moves into first place, ½ game ahead of the Oilmen. They seek to avenge their only loss of the season, which came 7-1 to NWI on Saturday. The Hounds go with Tom Concklin for Thursday’s game. He notched the win in his only start of the season, flirting with a no-hitter while limiting the Snipes to one run on two hits in eight innings on June 4. Concklin made 10 starts for Washington and Lee this spring, going 4-2 with a 2.74 ERA.
About the Matchup
The Oilmen have struggled historically against the Hounds, particularly last season when they went 2-8 in head-to-head meetings. However, NWI got the better of DuPage County 7-1 on Saturday in Lemont, allowing the Oilmen to improve to 12-14 all-time against the Hounds. DuPage and Southland are the only two current and former Midwest Collegiate League teams that the Oilmen have a sub-.500 record against.
Around the League
Thursday’s other game in the league pits the Michigan City Lakers against the Southland Vikings. Friday will be a full night of league activity as the Vikings and Lakers hookup again, the Hounds and Admirals clash in Joliet and the Oilmen and Snipes do battle at Oil City.
Click "download attachment" to view full Oilmen game notes.
