Kalamazoo, Mich. – On Salute to Selfie Night when the Kalamazoo Growlers wore their nationally acclaimed selfie jerseys, the Growlers came up short against the Wisconsin Woodchucks, 7-5.
Wisconsin (13-8) chopped the Growlers early as they scored two runs in the top of the first via a SAC Fly by Paul DeJong with the bases loaded. After a walk and another bases loaded jam the Woodchucks would line out to first base to bring across their second run of the inning.
It wouldn’t take long for the Growlers (8-11) to answer back as they scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning on four hits and three walks. A double steal by Troy Montgomery (Ohio State) and Justin Fletcher (Northern Illinois) would help Jesse Puscheck (Cansisus) register a two RBI single to tie the game.
The scoring would continue when Brett Sunde (Western Michigan) smoked a ball back up the middle scoring Karl Sorensen (St. Cloud State) from second. A lazy single into right field by John Brodner (Wright State) brought the fourth run around in the inning for the Growlers. The Growlers would bat around in the inning.
Woodchucks would answer back in the top of the fourth when the Chucks’ scored three runs five straight singles to take back the lead, 5-4.
Fletcher broke the silence of the crowd at Homer Stryker Field when he absolutely blasted a home run over the left field wall to tie the game back up at 5-5. It was Fletcher’s first home run of the season and ninth RBI of the season.
DeJong, the Northwoods League home run leader could not be silenced for long as he got ahold of the second pitch of the at-bat and took it for a ride over the left field wall for a two-run home run and gave the Woodchucks a 7-5 lead and ultimately the victory.
We have to give their relief pitching credit; we didn’t do a whole lot against them,” said head coach Joe Carbone. “We battled back to tie it up, but they got a lot of seeing eye ground balls and that’s baseball.”
The loss snapped the Growlers four-game win streak as they will look to rebound tomorrow night against the Chucks’. Eric Hall earned his first loss of the season going 2.2 innings, allowing four hits and just two runs. Starter Greyson Granger went 3.1 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits.
Sunde provided a much needed spark for the Growlers tonight going 3-for-5 with one RBI. Jesse Puscheck also some muscle going 1-for-5 with 2 RBI’s.
“I’ve always been aggressive as a hitter at the plate,” said catcher Brett Sunde. “I like to see and go after my pitch early in the count.”
Growlers and the Woodchucks will be back in action for game two of their series tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. The Growlers will honor those hard workers who keep the community healthy as it is Healthcare Appreciation Night.
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