07/30/2016 7:02 AM -
SATURDAY’S GAMES:
Northwest Indiana Oilmen (26-21)
at Southland Vikings (18-26)
*DOUBLEHEADER*
July 30, 2016 • 1 p.m. • Chicago Heights, Ill.
Radio: Online Only, NWIOilmen.com (Pregame 12:40 p.m.)
Pitching Matchup
Game 1 - NWI’s Luke Jaksich (St. Joseph’s College / St. John, Ind.) vs. Southland’s Mario Samuel (Wisconsin Parkside / Bolingbrook, Ill.); Game 2 – NWI’s Jordan Petty (Purdue Northwest / Highland, Ind.) vs. Southland’s Michael Shereyk (SIU Edwardsville / Flossmoor, Ill.)
For Starters
The Oilmen and Vikings will hook up for two seven-inning games on Saturday afternoon at Hap Bruno Field. This was originally scheduled as a single game, but the second game was added to make up a game that was rained out last week at Oil City Stadium. This marks the final day of the regular season for the Vikings. The Oilmen enter the day ½ game behind Joliet for second place and 2 ½ in back of first-place DuPage County. They Oilmen are hoping to secure home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with their performance this weekend.
Inside the Oilmen
The Oilmen will send two incoming freshmen left-handed pitchers to the mound for Saturday’s twin bill. Andrean graduate Luke Jaksich will get the nod in Game 1, followed by Highland product Jordan Petty in the nightcap. Jaksich is 4-0 with a 3.82 ERA and has issued 27 walks and 35 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings. He will make his 11th appearance and fourth start on Saturday. Jaksich worked the ninth inning of a 16-9 win over the Lakers on Wednesday and allowed four runs on three hits and three walks in one inning. Jaksich has already pitched against the Vikings five times this season and has a 1.42 ERA (3 ER in 19 IP) against them. Petty is 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA in 29 innings this season. He has flourished since being promoted from the bullpen to the rotation, going 3-0 with an 0.47 ERA (1 ER in 19 IP) in his three starts. This will be Petty’s first start against the Vikings, but he did allowed two runs in three innings out of the bullpen against them over two separate outings.
Inside the Vikings
The Vikings are coming off a 6-1 loss to the Bobcats on Thursday. Since Bloomington beat the Oilmen on Friday night, the Bobcats have locked up the final playoff spot in the MCL. Saturday’s games are meaningless for the Vikings. Robbie Nunn allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits in seven innings in the defeat. A.J. Fuller had two of Southland’s five hits. Chase Lorenz is on a hot streak for the Vikings, 5-for-11 over his last four games. Game 1 starter Mario Samuel is 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA this season. He has pitched in eight games and made five starts for a total of 42 innings. Samuel has walked 21 and struck out 24. He allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 10 hits and four walks over five innings in his most recent outing, a loss to the Lakers on July 22. He beat the Oilmen by holding them to four runs (one earned) over seven innings on July 16, but got no decision on June 11 at NWI (6 IP, 5 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO). Game 2 starter Michael Shereyk has a 3-3 record and 4.31 ERA in 39 innings over eight games, seven starts. He has issued 16 walks and notched 19 strikeouts. Shereyk allowed four runs (two earned) on eight hits in five innings against the Oilmen on June 25 to take the loss. He nailed down a save on Wednesday at Joliet with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
About the Matchup
The final two regular season meetings between the two teams will take place on Saturday afternoon. The Oilmen have are 6-5 in head-to-head meetings with the Vikings this season and need at least one win on Saturday to secure the season series. The Oilmen are 28-23 all-time against the Vikings.
Click "download attachment" to view full Oilmen Game Notes.
