Joliet, Ill. – June 3, 2021 – The Generals run differential took a sharp hit from +14 to an even zero after playing the Crestwood Panthers for back-to-back midweek matchups.

Joliet (3-2) lost the back end of the two-game home-and-home series against the Crestwood Panthers (4-2) 8-1 in Hammond at Riverside Park on Thursday.

Matt Dinkel (Lake Land / Bolingbrook, Ill.) impressed in his first start as a General, giving up just two hits and one run in three innings.

However, the Crestwood bats came out in full force tonight with ten hits. Tyler Schultz (Purdue University Northwest / Hobart, Ind.) parlayed his two hit game on Wednesday night into another one on Thursday, including a three-run homerun for his first of the season. Dino Biggers (Illinois Wesleyan / Naperville, Ill.) and Hayden Matulich (Purdue University Northwest / San Jose, Calif.) also contributed with extra-base hits. Donovan Noble (South Suburban / Chicago, Il.) reached base all five times, going 2-for-2 with a walk and two hit-by-pitches.

Ryan Smith (Rockford / Michigan City, Ind.), Michael Gould (Maryville / Naperville, Il.), and Nate Gehrke (Lake Land / Joliet, Ill.) collected the only three hits for Joliet on Wednesday, all singles.

Smith provided the defensive highlight of the day, throwing out Noble on a stolen base attempt.

“You can see that arm talent right away,” skipper Joe Silva said. “Even when he throws the ball back to the pitcher, he’s humming.”

Silva also mentioned that pitching coach Adam O’Malley and himself have had discussions with the catchers regarding pitch-calling and being dynamic as position players in the longer summer season.

“Crestwood Panthers did a good job making adjustments from Sunday,” Silva said. “We got outplayed.”

What’s Next

The Generals have four games next week, starting with the Southland Vikings at 5:05 p.m. at Dowling Park in Hammond, Ind.