06/13/2018 10:57 PM -
THURSDAY’S GAME:
Joliet Generals (6-5)
at Northwest Indiana Oilmen (4-8)
June 14, 2018 • 11 a.m. • Whiting, Ind.
Broadcast: Oilmen Broadcasting Network (Facebook Live)
Pitching Matchup
NWI RHP Max Franklin (Heartland CC / Chicago Heights, Ill.) vs. Joliet RHP Logan DeWulf (Upper Iowa / Huntley, Ill.)
For Starters
The Oilmen pitching staff did its part on Wednesday at Southland, but the defense committed four errors and the offense only mustered up five hits in a 6-0 loss to the Vikings. The Oilmen are 0-3 against the Vikings and 0-2 at Hap Bruno Field this season, having lost the two games in Chicago Heights by the combined score of 13-1. The Oilmen will be happy to see their home field on Tuesday as they’ve scored a double-figure run total in four of their five home games, while they’ve been shutout twice, held to one run once and limited to six runs over 15 innings once in their seven road tilts.
Inside the Oilmen
Max Franklin will get the nod on the mound on Tuesday morning. The Oilmen right-hander holds a 5.40 ERA and an 0-1 record through two starts. He has walked 11 and struck out 10 in 10 innings of work. Franklin pitched at Southland on June 1 and took the defeat, allowing five runs (two earned) in four frames before receiving no decision against Crestwood on June 6, when he allowed four runs on five hits while walking six in six innings. Five Oilmen hold batting averages of .300 or better – Nick Figus (.448), Tommy Farrell (.370), Brandon Petkoff (.333), Nate Motgomery (.306) and Jake Plastiak (.300). Montgomery leads the team in both RBIs (9) and runs scored (12). He has also slugged two home runs.
Inside the Generals
Joliet starting pitcher Logan DeWulf will make his third start of the summer. He went four innings and allowed three runs on six hits and three walks in a loss at Bloomington on May 31, then was also hit with the defeat after giving up six runs (three earned) on 16 hits in 8 2/3 innings while issuing one walk on June 5 at Southland. DeWulf is 0-2 with a 4.26 ERA in 12 2/3 innings this summer. He is college teammates with Oilmen infielder Brenden Butler at Upper Iowa, where both just completed their freshman year. The Generals are coming off a 12-3 win over Crestwood on Wednesday night that saw Joe Scaffidi lead the way with three hits. Scaffidi is up to a .458 average in six games, while Jeremiah Lebron is hitting .405 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 10 contests and was last week’s MCL Player of the Week.\
About the Matchup
The Oilmen and Generals will go at it for the third time this season, the Joliet Generals’ first year in existence. The Oilmen have dropped both meetings, with Joliet winning 14-12 on June 2 and 16-11 on June 8 in a pair of high-scoring affairs. The Oilmen have combined for 23 runs on 28 hits in two games against the Generals, but don’t have a win to show for it.
Click here to view full Oilmen game notes.
