KENOSHA, WI– The Growlers came into Historic Simmons Field having dropped four-straight after starting the second half to the 2017 season with a 5-0 record.
The first run of the night was scored by the hometown guys in the bottom of the first. Connor Doyle (University of San Diego) led off with a leadoff walk for the Kingfish. After a stolen bag for the centerfielder and a two-base throwing error charged to Kalamazoo catcher, Kaleb Murphy (USC), Doyle would eventually come around to score, 1-0 Kenosha early.
It wouldn’t take long for the Growlers to respond. After a Mitch Bigras (Boston College) walk and a balk charged to Kenosha starter, Zach Stromberg (Boston College), Jason Sullivan (Central Michigan) would come through for Kzoo with a two out RBI-double, 1-1 tie.
Shortstop, Ben Troike (Illinois State), would plate Cole Stanley (Texas A&M) to start the offense in the bottom of the second. Credit Troike with an RBI single. Nick Zouras (Illinois State) would come around to score after a wild pitch out of the hand of Blake Therrian (Florence-Darlington Tech). Troike would then score after a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of designated-hitter, Jesse Wilkening (Nebraska). Another wild pitch from Therrian would bring Doyle around for run number four on the inning, 5-1.
After a leadoff single and another stolen bag for Connor Doyle to start the home half of the fourth inning, the centerfielder would score on a wild pitch and a throwing error charged to catcher, Kaleb Murphy.
The Kingfish remained hungry for more offense. Credit Austin Bodrato (Florida) with an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth, 7-1 Kenosha.
Reliever Hayden Brauser (Missouri Southern State) was effective out of the Kalamazoo pen. The submariner went 2.1 innings pitched, allowing one hit, no earned, while punching out three fish in the process.
The Growlers return home tomorrow night for two with the Dock Spiders. First pitch set for 7:05 ET.
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 23-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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, 180 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). 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.