June 16, 2019
Contact: Bennett Wise, wisebm@miamioh.edu
Growlers tie late, but Jackrabbits scamper away
Kalamazoo can’t score in top 9 to drop first ever game versus Kokomo
The Kalamazoo Growlers scored one run in the top of the eighth, but the Kokomo Jackrabbits respond with a run of their own in the bottom half, to win 4-3.
Kokomo struck in the first inning after leadoff-man, Evan Albrecht (Purdue), walked against starting pitcher Michael Dunkelberger (Indiana) and later come around to score. Jim Timko (Eastern Michigan) grounded out to score Albrecht.
Kalamazoo would tie the ballgame in the third on a single by Anthony Cocco (GVSU). He would advance to second on a wild pitch from Kokomo’s starter Bayden Root (Ohio State). Cocco then come around to score on another wild pitch from Root.
Talon File (EIU) then led off the home half of the third with a single and scored on an error by Shea Kramer (Utah) at third base.
Both offenses were in a stalemate during the middle three innings, with the two teams combining for just three hits and no runs.
In the seventh, Miko Rodriguez (Texas A&M) led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He then moved to third on a single from Clay Owens (U of Southern California). In the ensuing at bat, Dakota Kotowski (Missouri State) grounded into a fielder’s choice to score Rodriguez.
In the bottom of the frame, File hit a solo home run to put the Jackrabbits up 3-2.
In the top of the eighth, Cocco hit a lead-off single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Jimmy Sullivan (UVA). Cocco then scored on an RBI single from Gabe Rivera (University of Miami).
Kokomo tallied another in the eighth, as Ethan Gallagher (UMBC) walked and his pinch runner, Denzel Clarke (CSU-Northridge), scored on a single from Chase Hacker (UTSA). Max Bain (Northwood) came into relieve Kaden Helsel (Drury), and struck out the next three Jackrabbits.
The Growlers were retired in order in the top of the ninth to end the game.
Dunkelberger finished with 5.0 innings pitched, four hits, one earned run, one walk and five strikeouts. Helsel (1-1) was credited with the lose, after giving up an earned run in the eighth.
Aaron Husson (3-0, UMBC) earned the win for KMO, while Joey Haass (2, Delaware) earned the save.
The series continues tomorrow at 7:05 from Kokomo Municipal Stadium, in Kokomo, IN.
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