BATTLE CREEK, MI- It was the defense and pitching that doomed the Battle Creek Bombers in their 14-2 loss to the Kokomo Jackrabbits Sunday.

Sunday marked the third time that the Jackrabbits have scored double-digit runs against the Bombers this season in seven games.

Kokomo was able to score four runs in the top of the fifth. After a lead-off walk, Adam Crampton reached on an error by second baseman Miguel Larreal. A double steal put runners in scoring position with two outs when Camden Vasquez struck out but reached first on a wild pitch from Bombers starter Isaac van Dyke. Jakob Marsee followed with a two-run double making it 5-0.

Of the five runs given up by Van Dyke, one of them was earned as the righty went six innings striking out three.

Things got ugly for the Bombers in the eighth. Kokomo scored six runs on seven walks and just two hits. All the damage was done against David Williams who only recorded two outs in the eighth. Battle Creek used five different pitchers in the game combining to walk 13 batters, third most this season by the Bombers pitching staff.

The Bombers were also hindered by errors making three errors in the game.

Kokomo was lead by Chris Santiago on offense going 3-5 and Jakob Marsee had three RBI. The Jackrabbits had 11 hits with eight of their nine starters recorded at least one hit with Santiago and Marsee both recording multi-hit games. Kokomo scored first, making it 1-0 in the fourth on an RBI ground out by Dylan Dennis.

Battle Creek had 10 hits led by Ed Johnson who went 3-5. Aaron Beck and Heath Hood also chipped in on offense with two hits a piece. Beck had an RBI single in the fifth and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Caleb Balgaard which made the game 5-2.

But the Jackrabbits pitching limiting the damage to just that. Gavin Lizik started for Kokomo going seven innings giving up two runs on seven hits. Cooper Omans, who recorded the win against the Bombers in Saturday’s game pitched the final two innings giving up three hits and striking out two without giving up a run.

The Bombers have now lost four in a row and have now been outscored by the Jackrabbits this season 63-27. Kokomo has now won three games in a row as they are now one game back of the first place Traverse City Pit Spitters in the Great Lakes East Standings with one game left to play in the first half.

The Bombers will look to avoid a sweep against the Jackrabbits tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

 

Written by Harris Eisenberg