Team News

Fresh off a win Thursday night, the Hounds were looking to build up another streak of wins as they entered play Friday night against the NWI Oilmen. However, NWI quickly crushed those dreams early as the Oilmen exploded for nine runs in the first two frames of the ballgame, which ultimately laid the foundation for the 13-2 Oilmen win.

 

Despite losing by eleven runs, the Hounds actually trumped the Oilmen in the hits column by a tally of 11 to 10. Joe Engel was back atop the lineup where he went one for five with a base knock. Dane Toppel slid back up into the top third of the lineup card where he went a team’s best three for five with two singles and a double.

 

Mike Roberson kept his impressive nine-game hitting streak alive as he went two for four at the dish with two singles. The sweet, swinging lefty Brandon Post drove in the only two runs for the Hounds after knocking a base hit in one of his four trips to the plate.

 

Tyler Tesmond reached base twice in his three plate appearances after reaching on a single and a walk. Ryan Krob manned the hot corner for the third straight game while also going one for four at the plate with a base hit. Finally, Zach Girard rounded out the eleven team hits after going two for four with two singles out of the nine hole. 

 

The Oilmen seemed to figure out the reigning MCL Pitcher of the Week, Chase Lowman out early as they chased the League City, Texas product out of the game after just an inning and a third in which he gave up 9 runs (6 earned) on five hits while striking out one. Joey Roberson limited the bleeding over the next four and two thirds innings where he allowed just one run on four hits while striking out two. Austin Lukaschewski came in for the final two innings where the Oilmen snagged three insurance runs off the righty.

 

NWI picked up three RBIs from Zach Forney after he slugged a long double in his three plate appearances. Josh Fewell and Alex Nisle both drove in two Oilmen runs while Tyler Sroczynski and Tommy Szczasny drove in one a piece. 

 

Clay Ketner picked up the win after throwing five innings of shut out ball where he allowed six hits and struck out one. Eric Frontzak came on to throw a perfect two frames after that. The Hounds squeaked two runs off reliever Jay Gutierrez in the eighth after he allowed three hits. Finally, James Whiteman shut down the final Hounds at bat, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out one.

 

The Hounds next ballgame will be Saturday, June 18th at 1:00pm against the Joliet Admirals at Wayne L. King Field. The Admirals currently lead the season series three games to one.