Oilmen visit Hounds with first place back up for grabs THURSDAY’S Game: June 18, 2015 • 5 p.m. • Lemont, Ill.
Radio: None
Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com
Pitching Matchup
NWI's Keith Mahler (Heartland / Cumberland / Highland, Ind.) vs. DuPage County's Nick Alfini (St. Ambrose / Downers Grove, Ill.)
For Starters
The Northwest Indiana Oilmen have mounted late comebacks in three consecutive league games. They hold a perfect 3-0 record in games played against the DuPage County Hounds this season. The Oilmen have scored five or more run in each of their first 10 games this year. Oilmen relievers have more decisions (3-2) than Oilmen starting pitchers (4-0).
Inside the Oilmen
Stefano Belmonte has at least one RBI in all seven games he’s played this summer. Belmonte also has hits in six straight games since going 0-for-4 in the season opener. He is 6-for-9 in his last two games, both against DuPage County. Alec Olund incurred his first hitless game in an Oilmen uniform on Tuesday night against the Hounds, snapping a six-game hitting streak with an 0-for-3 night. He still contributed by delivering a sacrifice fly. Sam Geraci drew two more walks on Tuesday to lift his team-leading total to eight. Geraci is also the only Oilman who has appeared in eight of the nine league games this season. Keith Mahler makes his third start of the summer and first against DuPage County. He is 1-0 with a 5.14 ERA in seven total innings. Mahler hasn’t pitched since June 7 at Lexington.
Inside the Hounds
The Oilmen have received no help from other teams in the Midwest Collegiate League in their battle atop the standings with DuPage County. The Hounds are a perfect 7-0 against teams other than the Oilmen this season. However, DuPage County is 0-3 in matchups with Northwest Indiana. The Hounds nipped Southland 6-5 on Wednesday to pull with ½ game of the Oilmen for the top spot in the MCL. St. Ambrose left-hander Nick Alfini gets the start on Thursday. He tossed seven shutout innings against Lexington in his only start of the season, which came on June 5.
About the Matchup
This marks NWI’s third consecutive league game against the Hounds. After Thursday, the two teams do not meet again until July 2 at Oil City Stadium. The all-time series between the two teams – which dates back to the first game in the history of both franchises – is split right down the middle, with each team holding 14 victories over the other.
Around the League
The scheduled game between Joliet and Michigan City on Wednesday was postponed by rain. The entire league has been severely impacted by Mother Nature. The Southland Vikings had nine consecutive days off prior to yesterday’s loss to DuPage County, with four rainouts taking place during that stretch.
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