Three Battle Creek errors allowed a Rockford Rivets 7-1 lead in the first four innings at C.O. Brown Stadium on Tuesday night. The Bombers dropped their sixth-straight at home, but have taken two of three in the series against Rockford.

In the first inning, Rockford (12-16) took advantage of an error by Battle Creek second baseman Cale Hennemann (University of Memphis). The error was followed by a Rockford double, which scored the first run of the game. The Rivets kept attacking, garnering a single, a walk and RBI single to go up 2-0. A wild pitch with bases loaded by Battle Creek starter Andrew Click (Davenport University) put Rockford up 3-0, then Click gave up a single which scored the fourth run of the game for Rockford.

Battle Creek (16-12) responded offensively with a run of their own, cutting the deficit to 4-1. Tom Stoffel (Virginia Tech) reached on a fielder’s choice, and Jordan Getzelman (Menlo College) brought him in thanks to an error on the Rockford shortstop.

Taylor Horn (Wayne State University) came in relief for the Bombers. Horn would throw two scoreless innings of work for the Bombers before getting in trouble in the fourth. An error by Bombers shortstop Nikola Vasic (Southern Illinois) would put runners on first and second. T.J. Shook (Oakland University) would come in to pitch for Horn, but Rockford took advantage of one more Battle Creek mistake. The Rivets scorched a two-RBI triple to right field off the Bombers’ reliever. A bad throw from right fielder Nick Walker (Austin Peay) got past third baseman Alex Howard (Arkansas State) which scored the third run of the inning.

Battle Creek struggled against Rockford starter Cole Bellair (Illinois), who would throw eight solid innings against Battle Creek, only allowing an unearned run off three hits, he struck out seven and walked two.

Relief wise for the Bombers, Shook, Takoda Metoxen (University of Memphis) and Zack Helsel (Miami-Dade) kept Rockford scoreless the rest of the night. Offensively in the eighth, Battle Creek got back-to-back singles from Vasic and Howard, but a deep fly ball hit to center by Stoffel was caught stranding the two runners. A late rally was attempted by the Bombers’ Howard and Walker, but failed in the end. Howard recorded his eighth multi-hit game in just seventeen games played.

Game four of the four-game series between Battle Creek and Rockford will be Wednesday night at C.O. Brown Stadium. The Bombers will throw newcomer Dakota Edwards (Cal State Stanislaus) with first pitch at 7:05. Voices of the Bombers Neil Doyle and Jake Hromada will have the coverage on the Bombers Radio Network and Northwoods League TV starting at 6:55.

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The Battle Creek Bombers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 160 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.battlecreekbombers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Bombers as your favorite team.