Traverse City, MI — In a tightly contested defensive battle, the Kalamazoo Growlers (9-10) fell just short to the host Traverse City Pit Spitters (10-10) by a final score of 2-1 from Pit Spitters Park Saturday evening. The Growlers drop their fourth consecutive contest entering the final two-game series of the long road trip.
Kalamazoo grabbed their first lead of the series in the second inning on a solo shot from Dakota Kotowski (Missouri State) to give the Growlers an early 1-0 advantage. The Pit Spitters answered in the fourth on a RBI double to knot the score at 1-1.
In the bottom frame of the sixth, Traverse City loaded the bases with one out to try and scratch across the go-ahead. Kalamazoo starting pitcher Adam Wheaton (Trine University) tallied a swinging strikeout on a 3-2 count to make it two outs in the inning. After that, Pit Spitters catcher Adam Proctor was hit on the very next pitch to score the run from third base and give the hosts a 2-1 edge.
The Growlers offense only compiled two hits in the final three innings of regulation as the Pit Spitters secured the two-game series sweep. Wheaton took the loss on the mound, despite allowing only one run through 5 ⅔ innings of work with five strikeouts. Traverse City starter Austin Shea earned the win, improving to 1-0. Pit Spitters reliever Pat Hohlfeld tallied his first save of the season.
The Kalamazoo Growlers travel five hours south tomorrow to Kokomo, Indiana as they face the Kokomo Jackrabbits for the first time in franchise history. First pitch for game one of the two-game set is slated for a 1:05 p.m. start.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Currently in its’ 26th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 200 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 (MIA). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
