Oilmen Venture to High Desert Field for Friday Affair FRIDAY’S GAME: July 3, 2015 • 5 p.m. • Lexington, Ill.
Radio: None
Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com
Pitching Matchup
NWI’s Jimmy Skiff (Purdue Calumet / Dyer, Ind.) vs. Matt Jenkins (Parkland)
For Starters
The Oilmen played in their eighth one-run game of the season on Thursday, improving to 3-5 in such games. They enjoyed their first walk-off win of the year as they rallied with two runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat DuPage County 4-3. Enrique Zamora became the first Oilmen pitcher to throw a nine-inning complete game since Michael Steensen on June 14, 2013, a 9-0 win over the Zephyrs. He became the second Oilmen pitcher to notch his third win in 2015, joining Jimmy Skiff. Zamora struck out eight to move into a tie with Michigan City’s Christian Bokich for the league lead in strikeouts with 28.
Inside the Oilmen
Skiff will look to move back ahead of his teammate Zamora in the win column on Friday, as he gets the start opposite the Snipes. Skiff has been the biggest success story on the Oilmen pitching staff this summer, as he leads the league in ERA at 0.47. He owns 17 strikeouts and has issued just three walks. Thursday was the second time this season the Oilmen scored fewer than five runs and won. Friday’s game is the first away from Oil City Stadium since June 21. The Oilmen have lost back-to-back road games.
Inside the Snipes
Now in his 15th season running the Snipes, manager Billy DuBois received good news this offseason when he learned of his upcoming induction into the National Semi-Pro Baseball Hall of Fame. The induction will take place in Evansville, Indiana on Sunday, Oct. 11. DuBois has also been named a manager for the Midwest Collegiate League All-Star Game for the first time. He will guide the North squad in next Tuesday’s game at Oil City Stadium. Lexington All-Stars include Ian Hall, Jeff Lavin, Reid Birlingmair, Ross Learnard, Neal Tyrell, Chris Maranto, Deion Thompson, Jared McCunn and Jason Priest. Matt Jenkins gets the start on the mound on Friday. His ERA stands at 4.25 in four MCL starts. This is the third time Jenkins has pitched against the Oilmen, as they have scored 11 runs (nine earned) in 7 1/3 innings against him.
About the Matchup
The Oilmen and Snipes are set to hook up for the fourth time this season, with the Oilmen capturing wins in two of the first three. All three prior meetings have taken place in Lexington, with two scheduled games at Oil City Stadium being postponed by rain. The Oilmen hold a 14-6 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams. The most recent matchups came on June 20, when the two squads split a doubleheader.
Around the MCL
The Oilmen and Hounds have been the top two teams in the league from the season’s outset. They have not been separated by more than one game in the standings at any point this year. After last night’s win, the Oilmen hold a one-game lead over DuPage. The Hounds visit the Vikings on Friday. The Admirals and Vikings had their game suspended due to darkness, tied 6-6 after 11 innings on Thursday at Wayne L. King Jr. Field.
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