The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. – June 19, 2016 – Just two seasons ago, a date with the Joliet Admirals was one to look forward to for the Northwest Indiana Oilmen.

The Oilmen went 16-3 in their first three seasons playing the Rockford/Joliet franchise, but Sunday provided yet another remainder that those days are a thing of the past.

The Admirals banged out 17 hits and received quality starting pitching to cruise to a 14-6 victory over the Oilmen.

“They’re not the Admirals of a couple years ago that were kind of an automatic win before (Admirals manager) Tom (Barry) got here,” Oilmen manager Adam Enright said. “He’s done a good job of getting guys who play hard and have a lot of talent. It’s a really good team.”

Joliet got a win-worthy start from Rob Talarico (6 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 H), six RBIs from Brendan Krob and four hits apiece from Krob and Jordan Miller on their way to the comfortable victory. The Admirals (10-8) scored two in the first and two more in the second before breaking the game open with a three-run fifth and six-run seventh.

Reggie Johnson (Alcorn State / South Holland, Ill.) allowed seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings, taking the loss to drop to 0-4. It was the first time this season an Oilmen starting pitcher was charged with more than four earned runs.

“Against this team especially, trusting off-speed in any count is very important because they hit fastballs really well,” Enright said. “They anticipate fastball most of the time. Even though they know they’re getting a fastball in a 2-0 or 3-1 count, they’ve still got to hit it, and hit it they did.”

Marshawn Taylor (Grambling State / Chicago, Ill.) collected two hits and reached base four times in his Oilmen debut.

“He played pretty well,” Enright said. “He was getting up to speed with thinking up to the game. The tools are there; he’ll help us. It’s just getting him back to baseball mode in games.”

Stefano Belmonte (Florida Gulf Coast / Munster, Ind.) led the Oilmen with three hits and drove in two. Zack Forney (Eastern Illinois / Cary, Ill.) and Chase Fieldhouse (St. Joseph’s College / St. John, Ind.) had two hits apiece.

The Oilmen plated four runs in the bottom of the ninth after trailing by 12 going into the inning.

The Oilmen (9-10) defense faltered again, committing five errors in the team’s most lopsided loss of the year.

Talarico snagged the win to improve to 4-0 this season. The Admirals have won four straight games.

The Oilmen will have back-to-back off days after finishing the five-game home week at 3-2. They welcome the Michigan City Lakers on Wednesday night at 7:20 p.m. on Community Night at the ballpark sponsored by Community Healthcare System. Tickets are available for the discounted price of $4.