Joey Grabanski, who went 2/4 with a double (Article by Brendan Nordstrom, Photo by Melissa Vozar)

KOKOMO, IN – In the fight for second place, the Battle Jacks (17-18) started a two-game series against the last place Kokomo Jackrabbits (10-24) in the final two games in the first half. Unfortunately for the Battle Jacks, their bats never got started, only recording four hits and one run in the 5-1 defeat.

Kokomo’s starting pitcher Dylan Delvecchio had a great performance going 7.0 innings, allowing three hits and only one earned run. 

The Battle Jacks starting pitcher Travis Cowan and Delvecchio went three-up, three-down to start the game before the Jackrabbit offense came alive in the second.

A lead-off walk was delivered to Kokomo’s Angel Galindez, followed by a pair of singles that loaded the bases. Carlos Hidalgo hit a deep sac-fly to center to score a run and heads-up baserunning crossed another. With runners at the corners, Matt Aribal laced a double into center field that scored two more for a 4-0 lead for the home team.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, Cowan made an incredible barehand scoop and delivered the out at home, and struck out the following batter to escape the jam.

Battle Jacks catcher Billy Hancock put the team into the hit column with a single up the middle to put runners on second and third, but the runners were stranded after a pair of strikeouts.

Finally, Battle Creek was able to answer at the top of the sixth after Bobby Nichols reached second on an error. A Patrick Mills ground-out moved Nichols to third and a Billy Hancock sac-hit brought him home to make it 4-1.

Battle Jacks reliever Jackson Braden entered the game in the sixth inning and delivered 4.0 innings of work allowing 2 hits, 1 earned run, and striking out 4.

The Jackrabbits tacked on an insurance run in the eighth after a lead-off double set up Kokomo’s Carlos Hidalgo for an RBI single.

Battle Creek went down swinging three straight times to end the game.

Standouts at the plate include a 1/4 day with an RBI for Billy Hancock and a 2/4 day with a double for Joey Grabanski.

The Battle Jacks look to split their third series of the season with Kokomo on Independence Day at 6:35 p.m. to close out the first half.