06/05/2016 6:20 AM -
SUNDAY’S GAME:
Northwest Indiana Oilmen (1-6)
at Joliet Admirals (4-4)
June 5, 2016 • 1 p.m. • Joliet, Ill.
Radio: NWIOilmen.com (12:40 pregame)
Pitching Matchup
NWI’s Richard Yelnick (Parkland / Trinity Christian / New Lenox, Ill.) vs. Joliet’s Matt Butler (St. Cloud State / Naperville, Ill.)
For Starters
The Oilmen saw enjoyed their best day of the season on Saturday, grabbing a 12-1 lead over the Southland Vikings in the fifth inning. Stefano Belmonte had three hits, Tyler Sroczynski collected three extra-base knocks, Brad Bohlen doubled twice and Josh Fewell reached in all three plate appearances including a three-run homer. However, the Oilmen suffered the misfortune of heavy rain hitting in the top of the fifth inning, before they could complete the five innings required for an official game. The game has been suspended and will be completed as a seven-inning game prior to a regularly-scheduled nine-inning game between the two teams.
Inside the Oilmen
Richard Yelnick will make his 2016 debut after spending the 2015 season working out of the Oilmen bullpen. The left-hander started last year with an 8 2/3 scoreless innings streak on his way to being named a Midwest Collegiate League All-Star. He finished the season with a 1.72 ERA in 20 1/3 innings with 11 walks against four strikeouts. Sunday will mark Yelnick’s second start in an Oilmen uniform. His first came in emergency fashion on July 12 of last season, when he was called upon to begin a game at Lexington and allowed six runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks in 1 2/3 innings. Yelnick had great success against the Admirals last season, tossing 4 2/3 scoreless innings against them over three games. At Parkland this spring, Yelnick pitched just 2 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs on nine hits for a 23.63 ERA. Next year, the southpaw will head to Palos Heights, Ill., where he’ll play at Trinity Christian under head coach Justin Huisman and assistant coach Adam Enright.
Inside the Admirals
The Admirals enter Sunday’s game riding high with a three-game winning streak after back-to-back wins over the DuPage County Hounds. Brendan Brundage racked up four hits in Saturday’s 9-4 Joliet win. The Admirals prevailed despite committing six errors in the game, four of which were charged to Matt Flummerfeld. Brundage leads Joliet in hitting at .433 in eight games, followed closely by Brendan Krob at .391. Brundage also paces the squad in RBIs with nine. Flummerfeld is hitting just .190, but leads the team in walks with seven to boast a .400 OBP. The Admirals are hitting .257 as a team and have a 5.12 ERA. They rank second in the league with 19 stolen bases in 22 attempts. Matt Butler has made three appearances on the mound for Joliet and owns a 6.00 ERA in six innings. He pitched three innings in relief last Sunday against the Oilmen and allowed three runs on three hits and three walks. His last appearance came on Wednesday, a scoreless inning against Southland.
About the Matchup
The Oilmen and Admirals split the first two meets of the year last Sunday, a doubleheader at Wayne L. King Junior Field. Both were high-scoring affairs with the Oilmen dropping Game 1 by a score of 9-7 before capturing their lone win of the season thus far in Game 2 by a score of 7-5. The Oilmen lead the all-time series 22-6. All nine Sunday games for the Oilmen this season are against the Admirals. After Sunday, the two teams will see each other eight more times, with the next six coming in Northwest Indiana.
Click "download attachment" to view full Oilmen game notes.
