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NWI Oilmen Explode for Seven-Run Sixth to Top Zephyrs

06/07/2013 10:08 PM -

Whiting, Ind. – June 7, 2013 – The Northwest Indiana Oilmen sent 11 men to the plate, posted six hits, drew two bases on balls and plated seven runs in a game-deciding sixth inning in Friday night’s 8-1 walloping of the Chicago Zephyrs.

Gerrad Rohan collected two hits in the sixth innings alone, singling to leadoff the frame before blooping a run-scoring single his second time.  Nick Saldutti, Rashawn Tillman and Anthony Bova all drove in runs with singles, before Leiff Clarkson laced an RBI double down the right field line.

“Towards the end of the game, our bats started coming alive and we started hitting together,” Rohan said.  “I feel like once it gets going, everyone just kind of goes with it.”

Joshua Brock was charged with five runs in the inning, while the other three were surrendered by Whiting graduate Andrew Lowe.

“It’s not fun [to pitch an inning like the Oilmen sixth],” Oilmen head coach and former big league pitcher Justin Huisman said.  “You feel like everything is just falling apart on you.  When they hit it soft, if finds a hole and when they hit it soft, it’s not at anybody.”

Oilmen starter Michael Steensen strung together seven solid innings, scattering seven hits while limiting the Zephyrs to just one run. 

“He’s a good strike thrower,” Huisman said.  “He just kept pounding the zone and he did a great job.”

Gavit High School graduate Aveeno Nasiloski loaded the bases but worked out of it in a scoreless eighth.

Chicago’s only tally came on a seventh inning two-run double by Cody Burton.  The Oilmen responded in the bottom of the seventh when Jack Czeszewski legged out a run-scoring single to second base to boost the lead back to seven. 

Bishop Noll grad Matt Pobereyko worked a scoreless ninth to nail down the victory.  Rohan finished with three hits, while Czeszewski, Saldutti and Joe Houlihan finished with two hits each.