FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2019
Contact: Jackson Kaplan, Kalamazoo Growlers
jkapla11@uncc.edu
Battle Creek, MI — In a tale of two completely different contests, the Kalamazoo Growlers (9-8) dropped consecutive games to their I-94 rivals the Battle Creek Bombers (8-9) by final scores of 12-6 and 1-0 at C.O. Brown Stadium.
Game 1
The Bombers struck first with five straight runs in the first two frames to take the early 5-0 lead in the second inning. Battle Creek tacked on three runs in the first inning with a RBI single followed by a two-run single. The Bombers then added two more RBI singles in the bottom of the second to stretch their lead.
Kalamazoo got on the board in the top half of the fourth on a solo home run from Gabe Rivera (Univ. of Miami) and RBI single by Hunter Thorn (Purdue Northwest) to cut the deficit to 5-2. Battle Creek quickly answered in the ensuing frame with a solo shot of its own to make it 6-2.
The Growlers loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth inning, but only plated one run on a Thorn sacrifice fly to trim the lead in half at 6-3. Battle Creek continued to provide an answer with three runs on three hits in the bottom frame to extend the advantage to 9-3.
Both teams exchanged three runs each in both frames of the eighth inning as Kalamazoo fell short in a game one offensive slugfest. Rivera scored on an error followed by a two-run bomb from Fox Leum (North Iowa Area CC) to put the Growlers within three runs.
Kalamazoo starting pitcher Dion Henderson (TCU) took the loss, falling to 0-2. Battle Creek starter Walter Talcott earned the win, improving to 1-0 and tossing a season-high eight strikeouts.
Game 2
The nightcap was an offensive struggle for both sides as neither team scored until the eighth inning with just seven combined hits. Battle Creek broke through with two outs in the bottom frame on a Josh Sears RBI single to break the scoreless tie at 1-0.
Growlers starting pitcher Brennan Cox (Wayne State) posted a stellar performance on the bump, compiling six scoreless innings with two hits allowed and three strikeouts. Kalamazoo relief pitcher DJ Moore (Huntington) took the loss, falling to 0-1.
Up Next
The stretch of four straight games between both crosstown rivals this week concludes tomorrow night as the Kalamazoo Growlers return home to the friendly confines of Homer Stryker Field. First is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start.
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