Battle Jacks SP Brett Sanchez tied his summer high strikeouts with 7 Ks (Article by Brendan Nordstrom, Photo by Melissa Vozar)

TRAVERSE CITY, MI — Battle Creek entered the afternoon contest in search of the series win over Traverse City, however the Pit Spitters (29-22) did not let it happen with a complete game 5-0 shutout over the Battle Jacks (24-27)

After BC went down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, the Pit Spitters took advantage with three hits off of Battle Jacks starter Brett Sanchez to plate a run and take a 1-0 advantage.

The scoreboard remained quiet over the next few innings as Pit Spitters starting RHP Aaron Forrest delivered three 1-2-3 innings in his first four of work.

The Battle Jacks broke Forrest’s no-hitter with a one out single off the bat of Tate Peterson. The hit did not amount to much as the next two batters were retired.

The Pit Spitters piled on another run thanks to a leadoff triple from Alec Atkinson and an RBI-single by Camden Traficante in the fifth inning. With two runners on and two outs, Marshall Toole chopped a groundball up the middle, which shortstop Evan Borst grabbed on a dive, spun, and delivered to first to get out of the jam.

Brett Sanchez shut down the Pit Spitters 1-2-3 in the sixth, thanks in part to a full extension diving catch from, who else, but Evan Borst at short stop to record the first out.

Battle Creek threatened in the bottom of the eighth inning with back-to-back hits with two outs. Robbie Merced hit an infield single against the shift and Billy Hancock hit a single to center in a pinch hit for Jimmy Wressel. However, the two-out rally fell flat as BC remained scoreless.

The team from the north tacked on more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth after Traverse City’s Dorighi, Summerhill, and Toole hit back-to-back-to-back singles. Battle Jacks reliever Cade Thune pitched out of the windup, eliciting a steal home from Toole, which resulted in a balk and the run scoring giving TC a 5-0 lead.

The Battle Jacks were retired in order to end the game and split the weekend series with Traverse City.

TC’s Aaron Forrest finished the complete game shutout, throwing 9.0 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 BB, and 2 Ks.

Battle Creek’s Brett Sanchez had a quality start as well throwing 7.0 innings, allowing 7 hits, 3 ER, 1 BB, and 7 Ks.

The Battle Jacks return home to MCCU Stadium for a lengthy 8-game homestand starting tomorrow at 6:35 EST against the Kenosha Kingfish.