By Luke Tanaka, Radio Broadcaster

Rochester, Minn. – The Bombers struggled to knock in runners once again Wednesday night, opening the second half with a 4-2 loss to the Rochester Honkers. 

Battle Creek left eight runners on base in this game and six in scoring position. Half of the runners in both categories were stranded in the first three innings. 

After Battle Creek put runners on second and third with nobody out, but failed to score in their half of the first, Rochester jumped on Bombers starter Cameron Ming (Arizona) in the bottom half. The Honkers' second batter, Ryan Webberley (Cal Poly Pomona), doubled to deep left center field and advanced to third on a passed ball. After a Joe DeRoche-Duffin (UConn) walk, Cole Krizmarzick (Nevada) grounded a ball to second base and beat out the potential double play, allowing Webberley to score. 

Rochester added another run in the third with Webberley again doubling and scoring. He came around on a Krizmarzick RBI double down the left field line. 

The Bombers would answer with a pair of runs in the next two innings. In the fourth, Lin Li (Taiwan) reached on an error and then moved to second on a Niko Pacheco (Cal State Fullerton) groundout. Dre Gleason (Austin Peay) hit a bloop a single down the left field line to record his seventh RBI of the season. In the fifth, Gleason’s college teammate Cayce Bredlau (Austin Peay) smashed a 3-1 pitch over the right-field fence and into the Rochester night. Bredlau’s first home run of the season tied the ballgame. 

Rochester wasted no time answering back, taking the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Miles Mastrobouni (College of San Mateo) singled with one out and stole second. With two outs and DeRoche-Duffin batting, a pop fly in foul territory dropped between a couple of Bombers and, a couple of pitches later, the Honker drilled an RBI single to give Rochester the lead. Ryan Summers’ (Louisville) RBI single gave the Honkers an insurance run in the sixth, scoring Slade Heggen (Oregon). 

Kaleb McCurry (Mars Hill University) celebrated his birthday by throwing two shutout innings, but the Bombers could not muster any more offense. 

Dan Swain (Siena) once again led the Bombers with a couple of hits, sharing the honor with Brennon Lund (BYU). Bredlau and Gleason recorded the two RBIs, both ending their nights 1-for-4. 

Ming took the loss after throwing five innings and allowing three runs and seven hits, while striking out a season-high seven batters. Griffin Weir allowed one run in the sixth and McCurry wrapped up the game on the hill. 

Webberley led the Honkers offense with his two doubles, scoring both times. DeRoche-Duffin reached base three times (RBI single, and two walks). 

Jayson Yano (Stevens) won for the second time against the Bombers this season, tossing five innings and giving up just two runs (one earned), while striking out seven. Jake Sparger (Louisville) recorded a three-inning save, allowing two hits and striking out two Bombers. 

Battle Creek wraps up their interleague series, and looks for their first win of the second half, tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. local time (8:05 Eastern) at Mayo Field.

The Battle Creek Bombers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). For more information, visit www.battlecreekbombers.com.

(Story photo courtesy of Battle Creek Photography and Design – Levi Green)