Oilmen seek elusive first win over Lakers THURSDAY’S GAME: Michigan City Lakers (5-6)
at Northwest Indiana Oilmen (9-5)
June 25, 2015 • 7:10 p.m. • Whiting, Ind.
Radio: AM 1230 WJOB
Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com
Pitching Matchup
NWI’s Christian Howell (Minnesota State Mankato / Aurora, Ill.) vs. Michigan City’s Bobby Humphreys (Indiana / Chesterton, Ind.)
For Starters
One game after scoring 12 runs and losing on Sunday afternoon, the Northwest Indiana Oilmen scored one run and won on Wednesday. They beat the Joliet Admirals 1-0 behind seven shutout innings from spot starter Jimmy Skiff. The Oilmen are now 2-2 all time in games decided by the score of 1-0. Wednesday marked the first time the Oilmen shut out the opposition this season, with the most recent shutout coming on July 16, 2014, a 6-0 win over the Zephyrs.
Inside the Oilmen
Christian Howell toes the rubber for Thursday’s game against Michigan City. The Minnesota State Mankato right-hander, who will make his third start of the year, holds a 5.25 ERA and has issued five walks while striking out 10. Howell yielded four runs on four hits in six innings in his most recent game, an eventual 6-5 win over DuPage County on June 16.
Inside the Lakers
The Lakers are playing their best baseball of the season, as they carry a two-game winning streak into Thursday’s game. Michigan City has scored 10 runs or more in each of the last three games. They suffered a 14-10 setback against Southland on Saturday, before topping the Oilmen 13-12 on Sunday and the Vikings 11-10 on Wednesday. Michigan City will go with Bobby Humphreys on the bump for Thursday’s game. The Chesterton High School alum holds a 3.31 ERA in 19 innings of work this year. Humphreys worked opposite the Oilmen on June 5, going six innings while yielding three runs (one earned) on five hits.
About the Matchup
The Oilmen are 0-2 against Michigan City this season. The Lakers are the only team in the Midwest Collegiate League that the Oilmen have yet to record a victory against this year. Michigan City will make its first trip to Oil City Stadium in 2015 on Thursday. The Lakers picked up a nonleague victory over the Oilmen last June in their most recent trip to the Whiting. The Oilmen are 7-5 all-time against the Lakers, 0-2 since Michigan City joined the MCL.
Around the MCL
The DuPage County Hounds have already won their Thursday game, topping Southland 3-2 in an early afternoon affair. Michael Wisz delivered a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth at Lemont Athletic Complex. The win allows DuPage County to expand its lead to one game over the Oilmen, entering Thursday evening. Thursday’s other game pits the Lexington Snipes against the Joliet Admirals.
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