Chicago, Ill.-June 4-  The Minutemen’s late game efforts were almost enough to overcome the deficit they faced all game.

The Minutemen were down 11-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. Just when all hope seemed lost, the Minutemen caught fire, bringing life back into the game. The team’s comeback rally consisted of five runs to put them within two.

The Northwest Oilmen (2-1) got out of the gates fast. A few errors and five walks in the beginning from the Minutemen (1-3) gave the Oilmen a 5-0 lead by the end of the second inning. The Oilmen hot streak didn’t stop there. They were able to post four more runs between the fourth and fifth innings. One of those runs came off the Oilmen’s first home run of the season. The Minutemen were able to eventually slow them down when Josh Gaines (Undecided/ Homewood, Ill.) moved from right field to the pitcher’s mound.

Gaines threw 87 pitches to close out the game. He only allowed two runs and three hits, as well as striking out six batters. Gaines took to the mound in the sixth inning and stayed put the rest of the game. In the last two innings, Gaines threw four strikeouts to limit more runs coming in.

Manager Deandre Gilmore was very happy about Gaines’s pitching performance.

“He kept the game close. They ended up keeping the game close and keeping us in the game so we could spark up that comeback,” Gilmore said.

Gaines may have kept the game close, but it was up to the Minutemen batting to finish the job. Up until the ninth inning, the Minutemen manufactured just four runs. Catcher Austin Velasquez (Cal College of St. Joseph/ Lansing, Ill.) hit a line drive into right field for a single. Armani Sanchez (Prairie State/ St. John, Ind.) and Alphonzo Franks (Southeastern Illinois/ Munster, Ind.) were walked, loading the bases with only one out. Brennan Brogni (Illinois Springfield/ Flagstaff, Ariz.)  also took four balls, keeping the bases juiced and allowing Velasquez to score the first of five runs in the inning. First Baseman Doug Loden (Joliet JC/ St. John, Ind.)then poked the ball out to center field for a double which allowed Sanchez and Franks to score two more. After a walk, and two batters getting hit by the pitch, the Minutemen were able to tag together two more runs to the scoreboard. Just like that, the tying run was at second base with a full swing of momentum on his side. Sanchez popped it up to center field, but it was caught and the game was over with a final score of 11-9.

Nonetheless, Gilmore was proud of his players for playing hard and not giving up at the end, and he is confident in the Minutemen’s ability to beat any team they face.

“I’m happy we kept competing. I wish we could’ve played cleaner as far as the walks and the strikeouts early, but I’m glad we kept competing and almost came back for the ‘W’,” he said. “We’re always confident. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Oilmen or any of the other teams in the league. We’re always confident as long as we do the important things like allowing less walks, and not striking out as many times.”

The Minutemen will play their next game at home against the Chicago American Giants at 5:05 pm. This will be the third time the Minutemen will play the Giants this season. Follow @MCLMinutemen on Facebook to catch the live stream of the game. Vincent Martorano will have the call. Make sure to follow @MclMinutemen on Twitter to keep up with the latest Minutemen news and updates.