Kalamazoo, Mich. – The Kalamazoo Growlers dropped a tough one to the Wisconsin Woodchucks on the road, as the Woodchucks set a season-high for hits with 21 in the 15-7 defeat over the Growlers.
Wisconsin scored runs in each of the first three innings of the game, led by back-to-back homeruns in the third inning. Javier Martinez (College of Dupage) sent a three-run shot over the left field wall, and then Connor Heady (Kentucky) followed him up with a solo homer. Trailing 8-3 heading into the fourth inning, the Growlers responded with their own offensive outburst. The fourth frame was led by a Mitchell Anderson (Kalamazoo Valley CC) three-run home run, his first homer of the season with the Growlers.
Kalamazoo would pull within one after the fourth inning, but Wisconsin offense was too much to handle all night. The Woodchucks would follow up with a five-run fifth inning and a couple more runs in the seventh to break this one open.
Martinez led the way offensively and became the ninth player in the Northwoods League this season with a five-hit ballgame, joining another Woodchuck in that department, Steele Walker (Oklahoma). Martinez finished the game going 5-for-5 with a homerun, three RBI and four runs scored to lead the Woodchucks. Over his past three games, Martinez has 13 RBI thanks in part to two grand slams in the 14-4 blowout win over the Green Bay Bullfrogs on Monday, earning him Northwoods League Player of the Night for his efforts.
Jared Oliva (Arizona) and George Janca (Texas A&M) each had three-hit games for the Woodchucks, and Marquise Doherty (Missouri) posted a four-hit ballgame.
One bright spot besides Anderson’s homerun was Sam Griggs (Southern Indiana). At the plate, Griggs went 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI. He also pitched a scoreless inning in relief for a depleted pitching staff at this point for the Growlers.
The Growlers (30-31) fall to under .500 for the first time all season with the 15-7 loss. They will face the same Woodchucks team tomorrow, as they look to split in their last series against Wisconsin in 2016. Garvin Alston (Arizona State) will be making his first start of the season for Kalamazoo on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 7:35 p.m. ET.
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The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd 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 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit northwoodsleague.com/kalamazoo-growlers/ or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Growlers as your favorite team.