By Nick Winstead

Battle Creek, Mich.—The Bombers pulled out all the stops in their attempt to defeat the visiting Green Bay Bullfrogs, including a synchronized clap, but their efforts proved to be futile as they went down 6-5 in 13.

Dakota Mekkes got his second start for the Bombers and looked sharp from the get go, striking out the side in the first. Mekkes would go five innings for the Bombers, striking out in the process 4 while walking five.

The Bombers struck first in the bottom of the third, Joey Havrilak (Akron) was issued a leadoff walk, a throwing error then allowed him to reach third. A Matt Dacey (Richmond) groundout brought him in for a 1-0 Bomber lead.

Jordan Grossjean (Central Michigan) took over for Mekkes in the 6^th and would walk the bases loaded in the 7^th. Field Manager Dan Trivett called on submarine pitcher Dan Martinson (Richmond) to take over in the bases loaded one out situation. Martinson got out of jam with a quick strike out and a soft ground ball to the mound.

In the bottom of the 7^th the Bombers increased their lead by one after Brandon Van Horn (Dallas Baptist) scored on an error that allowed Spencer Thornton (San Diego State) to reach with two outs.

In the top of the 8^th Zac Ryan (Georgia Tech) came in for the Bombers. The usually lights out Ryan struggled with command and would walk four Bullfrogs in the inning. Thanks to the walks the Bullfrogs were able to score two runs, tying the game.

The game remained tied until the 11^th inning when the Bullfrogs, now working against the lefty Andrew Mitchell (LSU) strung together two runs after two walks to start off the inning.

The Bombers, down 4-2 in the bottom of the 11^th did not back down from the challenge. Laz Rivera (Univ. of Miami) started things off for the Bombers with a one out single. Cody Kuzinczci (Northern Kentucky) came in as a pinch hitter and muscled out a broken bat single to left field. David Richards IV (Savannah State) then pinch ran for Kuzinczci.

Havrilak came to the plate and smoked a double into left center that scored both Rivera and Richards IV, tying the game at 4.

Andrew Mitchell struck out the side in the top of the 12^th, but the Bombers bats could not get anything going in the bottom half of the inning.

The 13^th inning saw Mitchell strike out the first Bullfrog he faced but he followed that up with a walk. A balk call would advance the runner to second base. Ivan Vietiez came to the plate with two outs and shot a ball into the left center gap, scoring one. He was brought in before the inning was over giving the Bullfrogs a 6-4 lead.

The Bombers went to work again, down two in extras—this time in the 13^th.

A leadoff walk to Brandon Van Horn started things off for the Bombers. Havrilak came to the plate with one out and was also walked. Following a wild pitch Van Horn and Havrilak moved to 3^rd and 2^nd respectively.

Spencer Thronton came to the plate and had a bloop single into left, scoring Van Horn. Henri Lartigue (Ole Miss) was walked intentionally after a wild pitch advanced Havrilak and Thronton. Matt Dacey came to the plate with the bases loaded but could not produce a run, flying out into shallow center field.

It was all up to Bryan Case (Oklahoma State), who had just joined the Bombers earlier in the day, to keep the game alive. He was unable to do so and the Bombers went down 6-5 in 13.

The Bombers will try to earn the split with the Bullfrogs tomorrow as the two squads square off again at C.O. Brown. 7:05 first pitch.

Game Notes:

Dakota Mekkes: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 4 SO. (Mekkes is now tied for the league lead in strike outs with 25)

Joey Havrilak: 2-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 R

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