Corn Dogs Fall to Oilmen in Game 1 of Championship Series

The Lake County Corn Dogs dropped game one of the Northern League Championship Series to the Northwest Indiana Oilmen 9-2 on Thursday in a game where the Oilmen thrived on both sides of the ball and the Corn Dogs could not find an answer.

Eric Santaguida started on the mound for the Corn Dogs, pitching three scoreless innings to start the game.

Check out the box score from the game.

After two games in the semi-final round where the Corn Dogs failed to jump on their opponent early, the offense came through in the bottom of the second. Ranko Stevanovic delivered a 2-RBI single, giving the Corn Dogs a 2-0 lead.

Carlos Canelon, Oilmen starting pitcher, tightened up after the bottom of the third and began throwing strikeouts, and did not stop.

Stevanovic’s single in the bottom of the third proved to be the final hit the Corn Dogs put up in the contest. Canelon finished with 14 total strikeouts in 8.1 innings pitched, successfully shutting down the Corn Dogs offense.

Not only did the Oilmen defense and pitching play well, but their offense also piled it on.

Spoiling Santaguida’s spectacular start, the Oilmen began lifting deep drives over the fences, totaling three home runs on the night. By the end of the game, the Oilmen outhit the Corn Dogs 17-3, and won the game 9-2.

The Corn Dogs need a bounce back performance to stay alive in the Northern League Championship Series, similar to their win in game two of the Semi-Final Series.

The Oilmen host the Corn Dogs on Friday at 7:10 p.m. at Oil City Stadium.