FOND DU LAC, WI- Kalamazoo continued its push toward the playoffs by completing a sweep of the Dock Spiders in a 7-3 win at Herr-Baker Field on Friday night.

Both teams were exchanging runs until the Growlers pushed across five runs in the seventh on a Jonathan Foster two-run single and a bases-clearing three-run triple by Cayman Richardson. Foster finished 2 for 4 with 2 RBI, and Richardson finished 2 for 4 with 4 RBI.

The Dock Spiders committed three errors on the night leading to four unearned runs for Kalamazoo. The errors spoiled a good start from Jacob Kostyshock, who went 4.0ip, 3H, and 1ER.  

Fond du Lac was paced by Cole Zabowski who finished 4 for 4 with a double, and scored two of the three Dock Spider runs. Zabowski never had an opportunity to drive in runs, with all four of his at-bats coming with no runners on base.

Kalamazoo starter Tyler Drabick went 5.0ip, 7H, and 3ER in a solid start. The Growlers also had two great bullpen performances from Braydon Nelson and Joe Boyle. Nelson delivered three innings of scoreless baseball and Joe Boyle allowed no runs while striking out three in the ninth.

The win was the fourth of the year for Kalamazoo against Fond du Lac, forcing a split in the season series. The win also pushed the Growlers magic number to 2, meaning a Kalamazoo win and Battle Creek loss on Saturday would clinch a playoff spot.

Kalamazoo will move onto Wausau to battle the Woodchucks as they continue their seven day, six game road trip through Wisconsin.

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The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Now in its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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, 200 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.kalamazoogrowlers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Growlers as your favorite team.