By Nick Winstead

Battle Creek, Mich.– Fresh off of a disappointing trip to Wisconsin the Bombers returned to C.O. Brown Stadium in triumphant fashion, beating the South Division leading Madison Mallards in a 14th inning walk-off.

Jacob Waguespack (Ole Miss) started the day on the bump for the Bombers. Waguespack attacked the zone consistently, striking out three in over six innings of work.   The Mallards would force Wags from the game in the 7th, as he neared his pitch limit.  

In the bottom of the 4th the Bombers would strike for 3 runs after back-to-back-to-back RBI singles in the heart of the order from Connor Panas (Canisius), Sam Koenig (Wisconsin-Milwaukee), and new arrival to the Bombers, Spencer Thornton (San Diego State). 

After relief appearances in the 7th by Dan Martinson (Richmond) and Luke Syens (Madison College) which saw the Mallards tie the game at three Josh Leone came into the game for an appearance that would last through the 12th. Leone was feeling it from the mound early, striking out 8 with the help of his curveball which the Mallards were baffled by.

In the top of the 8th the Mallards took the lead on a wild pitch, putting them ahead 4-3. Dan Trivett sent Justin Stawychny (Louisiana-Monroe) to the plate as a pinch hitter.  Stawychny ripped a triple to left center field to lead-off the inning. A sacrifice fly from Laz Rivera (Univ. of Miami) would bring home the tying run. 

The Bombers could not add anymore runs so the game would go into extras. 

Excellent pitching from both staffs kept both offenses quiet, until the bottom of the 14th rolled around. 

Laz Rivera was able to chop one down the third baseline where Pete Alonso tried to make a quick throw to first to get the speedy Rivera but would end up throwing it past the bag, allowing Rivera to advance to 2nd. 

Henri Lartigue (Ole Miss) came to the plate with no outs and initially attempted to lay down a bunt, which was popped foul. A few pitches later he would send the game home.

Lartigue smoked a fastball into deep right center field bringing Rivera home from second and giving the Bombers a walk-off win to snap a three game losing streak. 

The Bombers will go for the sweep against the Mallards tomorrow, first pitch at 7:05. 

Game Notes:

Jacob Waguespack: 6+ IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 K

Josh Leone: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 8 K

WP: Dakota Mekkes (1-0) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 K

The Battle Creek Bombers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). For more information, visit www.battlecreekbombers.com