Madison, Wisc. – Leading 4-1 after two insurance runs in the ninth, Battle Creek allowed a two-run home run to Madison in the bottom of the ninth, but the Bombers hung on to win 4-3.

A solo home run from Justin Felix (Arkansas State) and ground rule double by Cody Hawken (University of Portland) gave Battle Creek an early 2-1 lead on the Madison Mallards. In the ninth, Battle Creek (36-23, 16-8) added two insurance runs that held up and gave the Bombers a bounce back win at the Madison Mallards (31-28, 12-12) on Sunday afternoon 4-3.

Battle Creek garnered their first win at the “Duck Pond” in Madison this season and improved their record against the Mallards to 2-4.

There were four scoreless innings until the first run of the ballgame for either team. Battle Creek starter Tim Nelson (UC San Diego) found himself in a pitcher’s duel in his first start of the summer. He garnered the win today with his five-strong innings, allowing one run off four hits and he struck out five batters.

Felix smashed his fifth homer of the year down the left field line to put the Bombers on top 1-0 in the fourth. Then in the fifth, Battle Creek’s Gavin Homer (McHenry County College) doubled off the top of the wall. Homer’s leadoff double was followed by Hawken’s ground rule double which added to Battle Creek’s lead.

Down 2-0, Madison responded in their half of the fifth inning, scoring a run off three hits. Back-to-back singles and a double for the Mallards tied the game 1-1. Nelson walked the next batter to load the bases, but a strike out and fly out to center ended the inning.

Mark Quinby (UC San Diego) entered the game for Nelson in the sixth, he pitched three scoreless innings heading into the ninth. Battle Creek’s Evan Faccenda (Clarke University) and Aaron Antonini (Middle Tennessee State) recorded back-to-back singles, and were moved over on a Homer ground out. Madison chose to intentionally walk Hawken with Nikola Vasic (Southern Illinois) on deck. Vasic singled to bring home Faccenda and Alex Howard (Arkansas State) hit a sac fly to score Hawken making it 4-1 Battle Creek in the ninth.

Madison didn’t go away. Quinby recorded the first two outs of the bottom of the ninth easily. Madison worked a two out walk and belted a home run to cut the deficit to 4-3. Quinby got the following batter to chase a pitch in the dirt, but the runner reached first base. Battle Creek catcher Antonini thought he had applied the tag on the runner, but the umpires never saw the tag.

With the tying run on first and the winning run at the plate, Quinby struck out the next Mallard to slam the door shut on Madison’s rally.

 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

Maybe You Should Start More Often?

• In his first start of the summer, Nelson tied his season-high five innings pitched, allowed one run off four hits and struck out a season-high five batters.

Quin(bae)

• Quinby threw a season-high four innings and recorded his team-high fifth save of the summer. It was the Cerritos, California native’s first save since July 5 against Kenosha.

#HowieWowie

• Howard continues to prove why he’s one of the better hitters in the NWL, he recorded a hit in his sixth-straight game, including the last four games with multi-hits.
• The Albuquerque, New Mexico native has recorded 22 multi-hit games this summer and has a hit in 38 of his 46 games played.
• During this six-game hit streak, Howie is 14-37 (.378) with three homers, five doubles and five RBI.

Saucin', Saucin' on You

• Hawken has strung together a season-high seven game hitting streak. The Vancouver, Washington native has totaled nine hits and more importantly he's recorded seven RBI.

New Kid? No, That's Evan!

• Faccenda has quickly made a name for himself as a Bomber, recording a hit in five of his seven games played along with four RBI. He's registered a hit in his last four games.

A-A-Ron

• Antonini has tied his season-high five game hit streak, which he did in his first five games of the summer. The Hollywood, Florida native has two doubles, a home run and five RBI. 
• The Middle Tennessee State catcher has recorded his second multi-hit game since returning from his hamstring injury

Put on for My City

• Homer is hitting .285 (4-14) with a double and RBI since returning to the Bombers on July 25

 

This win will give the Bombers a momentum boost as the biggest series for Battle Creek this summer comes to C.O. Brown Stadium Monday night, July 31. The Rockford Rivets come to Battle Creek with a one-game lead on the Bombers in the second half South Division standings. A home playoff game is on the line starting at 7:05 with Taylor Horn (Wayne State University) on the mound for Battle Creek. Fans who can’t make it can catch the game on Northwoods League TV and on the Bombers Radio Network with Neil Doyle and Jake Hromada.  

 

A family night out for less than the cost of a tank of gas? Yep. Game tickets, meals and caps, all for less than 30 bucks total. Fill ‘er up.  It hasn’t been much fun to go to the pumps lately. Well we’ve got something that gives you great mileage when you consider family fun. You can take your family to a game, buy them dinner, get a free gift for each, and the whole evening costs less than a tank of gas.

Here’s the deal:

1. Four Reserved Grandstand seats to a Battle Creek Bombers game. 

2. Four quality Bombers caps. 

Wear ‘em, tip ‘em or talk through ‘em. These four embroidered caps help everyone remember this special night for years to come. If you bought these caps in a store, they would cost $15 each.

3. One large DEEP!DEEP!™ Dish, One Crazy Bread®, One 2-Liter Soda.

Food is all part of the game plan. Chow down before the game if you like. Or stop in on the way home after the game. Or use the free meal whenever you wish. Each family gets one large DEEP!DEEP!™ Dish pizza, one Crazy Bread®, and one 2-liter pop. 

You can call us or come to our ticket office to buy. Or you can always order on our website BattleCreekBombers.com. Deals for individuals and parties of two are also available.

What's included:

Friends and Family Deal – $29.99

•  Reserved Bleacher Seats
• 1 Large DEEP!DEEP!TM Dish Pizza
• 1 Crazy Bread®
• 2-Liter Pop
• 4 Bombers Hats

Double – $15.00

• 2 Reserved Bleacher Seats
• A large Classic Pepperoni
• 2 Bombers Hats

Single – $7.50

• 1 Reserved Bleacher Seat
• Half of a Large DEEP!DEEP!TM Dish Pizza
• 1 Bombers Hat

Questions?

• Call: 269.962.0735
• Email: tickets@battlecreekbombers.com
• Stop in: 189 Bridge St., Battle Creek, MI 49017

# # #

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.