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Kalamazoo, Mich. – The Kalamazoo Growlers registered just five runs on eight hits as they fall to the Kenosha Kingfish, 12-5 on Tuesday night. Ryan Bull (Notre Dame) was the Growler offense, going 3-for-4 with 3 RBI’s including a monster three run home run in the bottom of the first inning.
The Kingfish (14-12) got the hitting parade started in the top of the first as an RBI double down the left field line, that dribbled all the way to the corner of the fence and troubled left fielder Nick Yarnall as the play scored two runs. Kenosha would grab one more run with two outs, and took the early 3-0 lead.
“We are a very resilient group, it doesn’t bother us that teams put up a big spot of runs on us because we know we can hit,” said right fielder Ryan Bull.
The Growlers (10-18) would answer back in a big way in the bottom half of the inning, scoring five runs, while registering just one hit and capitalizing on one Kenosha error. After three straight walks, the bases were loaded for Nick Yarnall who slapped a ball to the first basemen that could not handle the ball correctly as both John Rubino and Jared Kujawa scored on the play. That is when Ryan Bull stepped to the plate and belted a three-run home run.
“I was just looking for a fastball that I could drive, “said Bull. “I shifted my approach and luckily he gave me something that I could put a good swing on.”
After the Growlers held the Kingfish scoreless in the second inning, Kenosha would go on to score in three straight innings including a two-run sixth inning, extending their lead to 8-5.
The turning point of the game would be in the sixth inning when the bases were full of Growlers with just one out. Like many times during this young season the Growlers were not able to register the clutch hit as back to back hitters would pop up to end the inning.
The Kingfish would score again in the top of the ninth off of one swing of the bat when third baseman Spencer Gaa (Bradley) belted a three-run home run to extend their lead to 12-5 and put the game out of reach for the Growlers.
“You have to come each day and wipe the slate clean and it’s grinding,” said Bull. “We have a very good team, we just have to put all three phases of the game together and we’ll be fin.”
Ryan Colegate received the loss going 4.1 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits. Kenosha’s Trevor Haas picked up the win going 4.1 IP, surrendering just four hits, allowing no runs. Ryan Bull argueably had his best game of the season going 3-for-4 with 3 RBI’s which included his three-home run home run.
The Growlers will be back in action tomorrow against the Kingfish, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. Ryan Smoyer (2-0, 2.70 ERA) will be on the mound for the Growlers as they look to earn their first win against the Kingfish this season.
The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit http://www.growlersbaseball.com.
