ROCKFORD, IL., – Battle Creek drops game four against Rockford 4-1 after winning the first three of the series. The Bombers did out hit the Rivets 10-8 but could not push across enough runs and left 10 runners on base.
Nolan LaMere started on the mound for Battle Creek in a bullpen game and had a good outing. Only two runs allowed on six hits through four innings and kept Battle Creek in the game. However, he was out pitched by the Rockford starter Jace Warkentien. Warkentien pitched seven and a third only allowing one run and striking out four. Battle Creek was able to spray nine hits around the field off of him though.
The scoring got started in the bottom of the second for Rockford when they loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. After a fielder’s choice that cut down Cam McDonald at the plate, Brian Fuentes scored on a wild pitch.
In the fourth, Fuentes would score again. This time on an RBI single by Gregory Ziegler that gave Rockford a 2-0 lead. That would be all that they needed.
Battle Creek would try to mount the comeback in the top of the eighth though. Caleb Balgaard doubled with one out, then Aaron Beck singled to put runners at the corners. Harold Coll came up to the plate and singled home Balgaard to cut the lead in half.
That is when the bullpen game continued, and the Bombers brought in position player Drew Dyer to pitch. McDonald would score on a wild pitch after being moved to third on a Shemar Page single. Then, Jake Donahue singled home Page to make the game 4-1.
Rockford’s closer Tucker Shalley took the mound in the ninth and shut the door only allowing one walk and earning the save.
Battle Creek moves to 12-18 on the year and head to Kokomo on Friday for a two game series with the Jackrabbits.