Battle Creek, MI–The Battle Jacks were back at MCCU field after six straight on the road. During the six game road stand, Battle Creek went 3-3. They were looking for winning streak number two of the second half. They would have to do it against the Kokomo Jackrabbits. The Jackrabbits came into the game 11-32, but have had some success against the Battle Jacks, winning three of the six matchups this season. Battle Creek was still looking for an offensive explosion and they would find it, scoring 10 runs on 13 hits on their way to a dominant W. Not only that, but the pitching staff recorded the first ever shut out in Battle Jacks history.

The Battle Jacks made it three straight games where they scored the first run. They did so early in this one, scoring in the 1st inning. Charlie Rhee started the inning off with a walk and was moved over to third on a Patrick Mills double. Rhee scored on a Billy Hancock RBI single to right field. They would add another in the 3rd by way of a Joey Grabanski RBI walk. Rhee scored for the second time in the game. In the very next inning Isaiah Gibbs would get the party started with a double. He would score off of a wild pitch to give the Battle Jacks a 3-0 lead.

In the 6th, Battle Creek blew the game wide open with six runs in the inning. It started with a double to left center field from Robbie Merced on the 11th pitch of his at bat. He scored on a Rhee single the very next batter. Mills then recorded his second hit singling on a hit and run. Hancock drove in both Rhee and Mills with his at bat, recording his second and third RBIs of the game. He was then brought home on an Aaron Dolney single. Dolney was brought home on a Brycen Sherwood ground out. Grabanski was hit by pitch and later came around to score on a Dillon Kark single that he ripped to left field. Gibbs was the first Battle Jack to bat in the inning, but lined out to third, so on his second time to the plate he made sure to find a gap, singling to left field. That wasn’t all of the scoring, as the two Battle Jacks who still hadn’t recorded a hit, did so to give the Battle Jacks another insurance run. Grabanski crushed a double to left center and was brought in to score on a Sherwood single up the middle. With that every single Battle Jack finished the game with at least one hit.

Battle Creek only need two pitchers to deliver the shutout. Justin Graves, the starter was phenomenal on the mound allowing just 5 hits in 7.0 innings of work. He struck out two, while just walking one. It was the way he was able to work himself back into counts that he fell behind that was most important. He had a few counts that saw three balls, but he was able to work out of nearly every count with an out. Jackson Braden came in relief and went two scoreless innings, pounding the strike zone, inducing two different double play balls to end the 8th and 9th.

The Battle Jacks will be back at it again tomorrow against Kokomo, looking for their first sweep since the first full week of June. First pitch is set for 6:35 PM.