By: Pat Mullen

Battle Creek, Mich.- The first Family Day of the season did not produce the desired result on the field for the Battle Creek Bombers as the Lakeshore Chinooks took the sweep with a 9-5 victory.

It looked promising early on as the Bombers jumped out to a 4-0 lead, with Austen Thrailkill (Embry-Riddle) dealing on the mound.

"I think my fastball command was what was working for me," Thrailkill said after the game. "In between the starts I made some mechanical changes and today the fastball really helped." 

Coach Dan Trivett was very energized going into the game, and knew that Thrailkill would step up to the table. In the end, Thrailkill went 5+ innings, only giving up two runs. 

Unfortunately for Coach Trivett and the Bombers, the bullpen could not close it down today.

The Chinooks tied the game in the 8th inning, spoiling the first win of the season for the starter Thrailkill.

Jordan Grosjean (Central Michigan), who just arrived in Battle Creek today, entered with the bases loaded in the 8th inning and gave up two runs, both unearned. 

In the bottom half of the inning, Mitch Peschon (Northwestern College) had a one out double and advanced to third on a passed ball.

Justin Stawychny (Louisiana-Monroe) got his first hit of the season, a clutch one, with a single up the middle to take a 5-4 lead.

The Bombers could not hold that lead, however.

Grosjean gave up five runs in the 9th inning, including a three run homerun, to end the Bombers' hopes.

Though the team fell to 1-5 on the season with the loss the Bombers are not settling.

"It is summer ball and you are here to have fun, but its not fun when you're losing," Thrailkill said. "We just need to get together and bounce back"

He added, "Wins are contagious, but so are losses. We just need to start winning and it will be a lot easier, then we will get on a streak." 

Game Notes:

Austen Thrailkill: 5+ IP, 4 BB, 3 K, 2 ER
Mitch Peschon: 2-4, 2B, 1 R
Sam Koenig: 2-4, 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI
Brandon Van Horn: 2-4, 1R

The Battle Creek Bombers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). For more information, visit www.battlecreekbombers.com