Corn Dogs lose a heartbreaker 9-8 to Oilmen

By Andrew Mild

After starting the season 8-1 the Corn Dogs have dropped their last two games, both by just one. run Thursday night in Whiting the Corn Dogs lost on a walk-off infield hit by the NWI Oilmen in what was their home opener.

The Corn Dogs scored first with a single to left by Tyler Schultz, and an error by the left fielder scored Scott Hansen. But the lead was short-lived. After a quick pair of outs Lake County could not get the key third out and ended up watching the Oilmen score six runs on just one hit.

Reliever Ryan Troxel came into the game and went 4.1 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five Oilmen.

“My changeup was dancing last night.” Troxel said. “I stopped going from the windup to simplify things and I have felt amazing since then.”

The Corn Dogs and Oilmen went scoreless until the sixth inning when Roman Kuntz hit the first home run in Corn Dogs history. That blast would drive in three runs to make it 6-4. The Oilmen tacked on one more run to put the score at 7-4.

In the top of the seventh, the Corn Dogs continued to swing hot bats, as Gavin Terry drove in a pair of runs and came around to score on a wild pitch to tie the game 7-7. Once again, the Oilmen responded with a run. Score 8-7.

Nicholas Johnstone then grounded out to second to drive in Jake Ferry to knot it up again. In the bottom of the ninth the Oilmen had two men on walked and scored the go-ahead run on an infield hit, winning 9-8.

The Corn Dogs return home tonight to play the Southland Vikings at 7 p.m. Friday, will be back in Whiting against the Oilmen on Saturday.

Photo by Josh Brunette