Three RBIs from Cooper Kelly (Kansas) lead Green Bay to victory Saturday night
Ashwaubenon, Wis.- The Green Bay Rockers earned their fourth straight win Saturday night with a 4-3 victory over the Battle Creek Battle Jacks at Capital Credit Union Park, earning their second win over the Battle Jacks this season heading into the final regular season meeting Sunday afternoon.
The Rockers were led by three RBIs from Cooper Kelly (Kansas) in the first two innings, with a two-run homer and RBI single putting the Rockers ahead early, and despite the Battle Jacks having the tying run reach base in the ninth, Green Bay held on for the one run victory over Battle Creek at home.
It was the Battle Jacks who started strong in the top of the first after a solo homer from Brock Daniels (Missouri) gave Battle Creek an early 1-0 lead, but the two-run homer from Kelly in the bottom of the first put Green Bay ahead 2-1 through the opening inning of play at Capital Credit Union Park.
Kelly tacked on his third RBI in two innings with an RBI single that scored Andrew Harris (Wisconsin-Parkside) from second, as his second hit in as many frames gave Green Bay a two-run lead at 3-1 heading into the third Saturday night.
Following a scoreless third inning on both sides, Battle Creek made it a 3-2 game off an RBI single from Jay Adams (Concordia University), but Green Bay once again responded courtesy of a solo homer from Nainoa Cardinez (Hawaii). The home run from the two-year Rocker put the Rockers back on top by two at 4-2 with the game approaching the fifth.
After each team did not score in the fifth, the Battle Jacks trimmed the deficit once more in the sixth following another home run from Coltrane Rubner (Davenport), but the Battle Jacks would not get any closer throughout the night as the Rockers bullpen led by Jacob Faulkner (Princeton) and Tyler Horvath (Case Western Reserve) held Battle Creek scoreless through the final three innings Saturday night.
With the Rockers relievers in control, Green Bay stayed patient offensively and continued to put runners on base all game long, but it remained a 4-3 game prior to a 40-minute rain delay in the bottom of the eighth with the Rockers still leading by one.
After the delay, Faulkner and Horvath each combined to only allow two hits throughout the last three frames as even with the Battle Jacks putting the tying run on with two outs in the ninth, a groundout to first ended the game to seal the deal for the Rockers fourth straight victory.
Green Bay and Battle Creek will meet for the fourth and final time this regular season Sunday afternoon with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m. from Capital Credit Union Park. The pregame concert performed by The Cougars will begin at 12:00 p.m. with this game also featuring a water bottle giveaway for the first 500 fans in attendance.
Single game tickets are on sale now. Visit www.greenbayrockers.com or call the ticket office at 920-497-7225 to reserve your seats today. The Rockers front office and Team Apparel Fan Shop at Capital Credit Union Park are located at 2231 Holmgren Way in Ashwaubenon. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm.
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