07/06/2018 10:37 AM -
FRIDAY’S GAME:
Southland Vikings (15-7)
at NWI Oilmen (16-13)
July 6, 2018 • 7:10 p.m. • Whiting, Ind.
Broadcast: Oilmen Broadcasting Network (Facebook Live)
Pitching Matchup
NWI RHP Alex Voss (Butler / South Bend, Ind.) vs. Southland LHP Anthony Rogers (Concordia University Chicago / Bolingbrook, Ill.)
For Starters
A scheduled off day on Wednesday and a rainout on Thursday provided a much-needed break for an Oilmen team that had played nine games in seven days without a day off. Now, the Oilmen will look to get back on track as they try to snap a three-game losing streak that has seen them allow 36 runs over three games. Four home games over the next three days will provide a chance for the Oilmen to turn it back around as they continue a busy month of July. A short-handed Oilmen team dropped the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader 10-8 to Bloomington before position players pitching for NWI permitted the Bobcats to pull away for a 13-3 victory in the second game. Zaid Walker was the star of the day for the Oilmen, going 4-for-6 with a double, home run and five RBIs over the two games.
Inside the Oilmen
The Oilmen will send Alex Voss to the mound for Friday’s date with Southland. He’ll look to sustain the success he enjoyed in his last start, when he issued no walks and struck out four while yielding two runs (one earned) on six hits in seven innings against the Vikings on Saturday, June 30. That marked Voss’ first start of the summer, but he has also made three relief appearances. For the season, the incoming Butler freshman owns a 1.42 ERA and 2-0 record in 12 2/3 innings. He’s issued just one walk and struck out eight. The Walker home run on Tuesday was already the team’s 14th of the summer, tying last season for third in single-season franchise history for team home runs. The Oilmen need one more big fly to tie 2016 for second and three more to match 2015 for the most home runs in a single season. Before Adam Enright took over the Oilmen in 2015, the team had no more than 10 home runs in any one season. Since, they’ve had 14 or more in all four seasons. The Oilmen lead the league in home runs, followed by DuPage County with 11.
Inside the Vikings
In shocking news, John Hendry will not start on the mound for the Southland Vikings on Friday night. The right-handed hurler has pitched four of the first five games against the Oilmen this season, but NWI will see a different face on Friday as they’ll take their hacks against left-hander Anthony Rogers, a former Chicago Catholic League All-Conference and All-Academic team selection who won three letters at Montini Catholic before continuing his career at Concordia Chicago, where he just completed his freshman season. Rogers owns a 2.35 ERA and 4-0 record with one save this summer for Southland. The Vikings were rained out at DuPage County on Thursday haven’t played since Sunday, when they beat Bloomington 10-9.
About the Matchup
The last time these two teams got together, Voss pitched the Oilmen to a 5-4 victory. That was one of four one-run games the Oilmen have played this season, all victories. Hunter Thorn spanked a two-run homer in the first inning to start the scoring. That victory allowed the Oilmen to gain a 32-31 edge in the all-time series with the Vikings. Southland still holds a 3-2 advantage in the season series.
Click here to view full PDF Oilmen Game Notes.
