KALAMAZOO, MI., – The Bombers started a two-game series with the Kalamazoo Growlers Saturday. Battle Creek was 1-5 against Kalamazoo this season, but that changed for the better with the 3-1 victory off the Growlers.

The scoring started in the bottom of the second for Kalamazoo as Luke Storm blasted a ball out to right field and off the roof of the Bell’s Bear Cave. However, that was the only run that Burrell Jones gave up. He pitched six innings and was dominant. One run on four hits while he struck out nine.

Battle Creek came back quickly though. In the next half inning, Ed Johnson walked, and Jack Merrifield singled to put two on with one out. Aaron Beck was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Mason Sykes. Sykes singled down the right field line and drove in Johnson and Merrifield to give Battle Creek the 2-1 lead.

They would add to that lead in the seventh with a very similar situation. Sy Snedeker was at third after a single, a Merrifield walk, and a walk by Beck. This would be the second time that Sykes was at the plate with the bases loaded. The second pitch of the at-bat was wild, and Snedeker was easily able to come in to score the important insurance run.

Zach Williams came in relief of Jones and pitched two scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one. Holding Kalamazoo in the seventh and the eighth allowed Battle Creek to use Davis Burgin in the ninth. Burgin walked the first batter of the inning and then struck out the side to secure the 3-1 victory and the save. Jones gets the win and Michael Dunkelberger gets the loss.

Battle Creek improves to 15-23 and 2-2 in the second half. Kalamazoo has not won a game in the second half yet as they sit at 0-5 and 15-26 overall. Game two of the series is set for 1:35 PM in Kalamazoo on Sunday.

By Josh Baker