The Battle Creek Bombers fell 6-5 to the Kenosha Kingfish Friday night at C.O. Brown Stadium, splitting the two-game series. With the loss, the Bombers drop to 27-28 on the season and 9-10 in the second half.

The Bombers fell behind early on, but their bats started to make some noise. With the Bombers trailing 5-0 in the fourth inning, first baseman Nick Podkul hit a one-out single and advanced to second after catcher Jacob Blunt followed with a single. Left fielder Daniel Jipping lined a single into center field, scoring Podkul to make it a 5-1 deficit. After Storm Joop struck out, right fielder Eric Gilgenbach walked to load the bases, but Nick Poirier grounded out to end the inning.

The Kingfish would get the run back in the top of the fifth inning to make it a 6-1 lead. While trailing by five in the seventh inning, Storm Joop led off with a walk. With two outs, second baseman Jarrod Watkins reached on an error to give the Bombers two runners on, but Ryan Dorow struck out to end the Bombers’ threat.

The Bombers continued to trail 6-1 before putting up a ferocious rally in the bottom of the ninth inning. Daniel Jipping led off the inning with a walk. Storm Joop reached on an error, advancing Jipping to second. Eric Gilgenbach followed with a walk to load the bases for the Bombers with nobody out.

Pinch hitter Christian Helsel worked a bases loaded walk, scoring Jipping to cut the Kingfish lead to 6-2. After pinch hitter Daniel Patzlaff struck out, Ryan Dorow reached on an error, scoring Storm Joop to make it a 6-3 ballgame. Eric Gilgenbach would come home to score on a wild pitch, and the Bombers then just trailed 6-4. With one out, Dean Miller grounded out, but Helsel scored on the play to make it a 6-5 game. With two outs, Nick Podkul flew out to right field to end the rally.

Cody Puckett took the loss in the game, his second of the year. He allowed six runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings.

The Bombers now welcome the Wisconsin Woodchucks to Battle Creek for a two-game stint starting Saturday evening at 6:05.