By Max Gun, Radio Broadcaster
Battle Creek, Mich.—The Battle Creek Bombers dropped their fourth straight game against the Green Bay Bullfrogs, losing 4-1.
Green Bay scored their first run in the third inning, when Jack Stunc (Washington State), reached on an error to lead off the inning. Strunc got to second base on a passed ball, and then Ty Blankmeyer (St. John’s) singled to put runners on the corners. With the leadoff man Logan Taylor (Louisville) up, Bombers pitcher Jordan Knutson (Missouri State) had Blankmeyer picked off. He threw the ball to first baseman Dre Gleason (Austin Peay) who threw home to try to prevent Strunc from scoring but he slid in safely to make the score 1-0 Bullfrogs.
The Bombers got that run back and tied the game in the bottom of the third inning when Brennan Lund (BYU) was hit by a pitch and advanced to second base on a Dan Swain (Siena) single. That set up Christian Helsel (Penn State), who delivered a single back up the middle to score Lund to tie the game 1-1.
Green Bay scored another run in the fifth, when Strunc singled and advanced to second base on another passed ball. Blankmeyer knocked him in with another single to make the score 2-1.
The Bullfrogs scored their final two runs in the sixth inning. Danny Rosenbaum (Louisville) led off the inning with a single, and then Paul Jacobson (South Dakota State) reached on error. That put runners at first at second for Matt De La Rosa, who singled him Rosenbaum with a single up the middle. That made the score 3-1. Green Bay made the score 4-1 after a passed ball that got by Bombers catcher Spencer Hemphill (Louisiana-Monroe) to score Jacobson.
“Defensively, behind the plate, it’s more mental than physical,” said Jimmy Correnti, Bombers Assistant Coach.” They just aren’t playing all nine innings, and I can say that for every other position guy. I have yet to see a full nine inning game from anyone.”
Ryan Radue (UCONN) earned the win for Green Bay. He pitched five innings, allowed four hits and gave up just one earned run. He also struck out eight Bombers.
Knutson takes the loss for Battle Creek after pitching six innings and giving up four runs (two earned). He gave up seven hits and struck out five. Kaleb McCurry (Mars Hill University) and Mason Marshall (BYU) combined to throw three shutout innings out of the Bombers bullpen.
The Bombers left eight men on base in the game.
“We aren’t taking advatage of hitters counts with guys on base in scoring position,” Correnti said. “When we get two strikes, guys are still taking 2-0, 3-1 hacks. In that situation they need to be able to get the job done. We’re just playing selfish baseball right now, but hopefully tomorrow when we come out you’re going to see a whole new Battle Creek Bombers ball club.”
The Bombers overall record is now 12-21. They fall a season-high nine games below the .500 mark.
Battle Creek will conclude their series with Green Bay on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Battle Creek Bombers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). For more information, visit www.battlecreekbombers.com.
(Story photo courtesy of Battle Creek Photography and Design – Levi Green)
