Oilmen hope to continue hot start in Lexington SUNDAY’S Game:
Northwest Indiana Oilmen (4-1) at Lexington Snipes (0-3) June 7, 2015 • approx. 3 p.m. • Lexington, Ill.
Radio: AM 1230 WJOB Internet Broadcast: nwioilmen.com Pitching Matchup
Keith Mahler (Heartland / Cumberland / Highland, Ind.) v. Matt Jenkins (Parkland) For Starters
Sunday’s game in Lexington marks the end of a grueling stretch of six road games at five different locations in a seven-day span to open the season. After Sunday, the Oilmen will have played at every Midwest Collegiate League venue, other than their home field of Oil City Stadium. The Oilmen picked up their first win at DuPage County since June 21, 2013 on Saturday by clubbing the Hounds 7-1. Through three games, catcher Josh Turnock is batting a team-best .500 (5-for-10). Stefano Belmonte is hitting .188, but leads the team in runs batted in with six.
Inside the Oilmen
The Oilmen will send Keith Mahler to the mound on Sunday for his second start of the year. Mahler departed after three scoreless innings on opening day in Joliet with arm discomfort. He is expected to be on stringent inning and pitch count limits on Sunday. Mahler is a former Snipe, having pitched one game for Lexington on July 26, 2013 against Rockford. Eastern Illinois left-hander Hunter Clark reported and made his Oilmen debut on Saturday, leaving Tyler Loesher as the only player that has yet to report. Loesher is expected to join the team on the upcoming homestand.
Inside the Snipes
The Snipes split a nonleague doubleheader with the Quad City 76ers on Saturday. They enter Sunday’s game seeking their first Midwest Collegiate League win of the year. The Snipes have dropped seven straight MCL games dating back to July 24 of last year, including two postseason losses to Southland and two losses to the Oilmen on the final day of the 2014 regular season. The Snipes turn to left-hander Matt Jenkins to try to stop the bleeding. Jenkins made nine appearances as a freshman at Parkland, working 36 2/3 innings while issuing 11 walks and striking out 53. He finished the season with a 2.70 ERA and a record of 5-1. Jenkins will pitch against collegiate teammates Sam Geraci, Xavier Warren and Donovan Chandler, while fellow Cobras pitcher Richard Yelnick is also on the Oilmen roster.
About the Matchup
The Oilmen hold a 12-5 advantage in the all-time series with the Snipes, who are in their third season in the Midwest Collegiate League. The Oilmen are 4-2 in six games played at High Desert Field in Lexington.
Around the League
The Michigan City Lakers made it back-to-back victories by rallying for the second consecutive day for a 9-8 win over Southland on Saturday. The Lakers banged out 18 hits in the triumph. All six MCL are in action with 1 p.m. starts on Sunday.
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