Bombers win back-and-forth slugfest against the Mallards, 15-11

The Mallards started the scoring in the bottom of the first, getting to Bombers' starter Malcolm Grady early. After back-to-back-to-back singles gave the Mallards a 1-0 lead, Sam Armstrong launched a three-run homer over the left field porch to give the Mallards a 4-0 lead.

But the Bombers would battle back in the top of the second as they quickly figured out Mallards' starter Mike Byrne. After a leadoff walk by Jacob Blunt, Ryan Dorow struck out and Nick Podkul reached on an error to put runners on first and third. Christian Helsel launched a double into left field and Dean Miller singled into right to cut the Mallards lead to 4-3.

Cody Young would reach on an error, advancing Miller to second before Jarrod Watkins would double two-batters later to tie the game at four. Daniel Jipping followed his fellow Chippewa with a single to give the Bombers a 6-4 lead.

But the Mallards would come back in the bottom of the inning, taking a 7-6 lead on singles by Cam Comer, Nico Hoerner and Matt McCann.

The Bombers, though, would come back with two homers in the top of the third, as Podkul hit a two-run bomb and Dean Miller hit a solo shot, to take a 9-7 lead.

Yet again, though, the Mallards would tie the game in the bottom of the inning on Comer's two-run home run.

Both the Bombers and Mallards bats would go silent through the middle innings, and Battle Creek would break the tie in the top of the seventh. With one out and Ryan Dorow on second after a leadoff walk and Podkul's sacrifice bunt, Helsel knocked in his second run of the game on his second double, giving the Bombers a 10-9 lead.

After Miller flew out, Kevin Dupree, pinch-hitting for Cody Young, knocked Helsel home on a single and Daniel Patzlaff followed with an RBI-double as the Bombers took a 12-9 lead.

But yet again, the Mallards would fight back, scoring a run on Hoerner's RBI-single to cut the Bombers' lead to 12-10. Helsel finished the night 2 for 3 with two doubles, two runs scored and three RBIs.

The Bombers would make it 13-10 in the top of the eighth on Helsel's sacrifice fly, but the Mallards would make it 13-11 in the bottom of the inning as Bryce Carter reached on an error, scoring Armstrong.

Daniel Jipping though, would extend the Bombers' lead to 15-11 in the top of the ninth on his two-run shot, his eight home run of the season, and that's where the final score would stand. Jipping finished the night 2 for 4 with four RBIs.

Edgar Sanchez, Krystien Johnson-Battilana and Brandon Guske all pitched in relief for Grady, while Alex Hintz, Luke Shilling, Alex Smith and Luke Vogrin came on in relief for Byrne.

Johnson-Battilana picks up the win for the Bombers, who move to 19-18 on the year and 1-0 in the second half. Alex Smith takes the loss for the Mallards, who fall to 23-14 and 0-1 in the second half.

The Bombers and Mallards are back in action for game two of the two-game set at 7:05 CST/8:05 EST at Warner Park on Thursday evening.