06/03/2016 12:00 AM -
FRIDAY’S GAME:
Northwest Indiana Oilmen (1-5)
at Bloomington Bobcats (4-1)
June 3, 2016 • 7:30 p.m. • Bloomington, Ind.
Radio: AM 1230 WJOB (7:10 pregame)
Pitching Matchup
Game 1 - NWI’s Max Siedlecki (New Mexico Highlands / Chicago, Ill.) vs. Bloomington’s Mitch Weis (Illinois State / Ballwin, Mo.)
For Starters
Friday’s pitching matchup is a rematch of a week ago, when the Oilmen opened the season in Bloomington. Oilmen starter Max Siedlecki worked five strong innings and took a tough-luck loss on May 27 at O’Neil Park. He is the only Oilmen pitcher who has seen action who has not issued a walk yet this season. Siedlecki was outdone by Bloomington starter Mitch Weis that night. Weis captured the win with seven scoreless frames of one-hit, nine-strikeout baseball while issuing one walk. His efforts earned him Midwest Collegiate League Pitcher of the Week recognition.
Inside the Oilmen
The Oilmen have already been shutout twice this season, both against the Bobcats. For comparison, they were not shutout at all during the 2012 or 2014 seasons and just twice in 2013 and once in 2015. The Oilmen are hitting .222 as a team, which ranks fifth in the six-team league. They have only four extra-base hits in six games, ranking ahead of only the Lakers, who have played just two games. Last year six games into the season, the Oilmen were 5-1. In 2014, they stood at 3-3 – their worst six-game start before this year. The 2012 and 2013 seasons each saw the Oilmen win four of their first six.
Inside the Bobcats
The pitching has been the story for the Bobcats so far this season, paving the way for Bloomington’s 4-1 start in its first year in the Midwest Collegiate League. Bloomington owns a league-best 1.58 ERA and has only allowed only 12 walks while racking up 42 strikeouts in 40 innings. The Bobcats have allowed just one earned run in 27 innings against the Oilmen this season. The pitching staff has carried the load for an offense that ranks fourth in the league with a .243 average. The Bobcats have not run much this year, as they are 3-of-5 in the stolen base department.
About the Matchup
This is the fourth meeting ever between the two teams, all of them taking place in Bloomington. After Friday, the Oilmen will have played more games against the Bobcats (4) than against the rest of the league combined (3). The next matchup between the two squads will occur on Wednesday, June 16 at Oil City Stadium. They will face off twice in July, both in Bloomington.
Former Oilmen in NCAA Regional
The Regional round of the NCAA baseball tournament is set to get going on Friday. This year, two former Oilmen are participating in the tournament. Nick Vogelmeier, Northwest Indiana’s starting shortstop in 2013, has reached the NCAA Regional with Western Michigan. The Broncos are a surprise NCAA Tournament team with a 22-32 record after winning the Mid-American Conference Tournament. They are in the tournament for the first time since 1989. They’ll matchup with Louisville – which includes former MCL star Corey Ray – in the Regional opener. Vogelmeier started 52 games at Western Michigan and hit .297. Louisiana Tech (40-18) is the other NCAA Tournament team with an ex-Oilman on its roster. Cameron Linck went 3-1 in 14 appearances (10 starts) with the Bulldogs, posting a 3.42 ERA.
Click "download attachment" to view full Oilmen game notes.
