LOVES PARK, Ill.– The Kalamazoo Growlers drop the final game on the four-game road trip by a final of 5-4 in ten innings of play.

Kalamazoo came into game two of the series with the Rockford Rivets having won six straight ballgames dating back to the first half of the season, 5-0 since kicking off the second part of the 2017 campaign.

After three straight two-out singles for Connor Hollis (Houston), Jason Sullivan (Central Michigan) and Matt Koehler (Western Carolina), the Growlers plated run number one on the evening in the top of the first on a Koehler RBI single, 1-0 Kzoo. RBI number seventeen on the season for the red-hot outfielder.

First baseman, Zach Reams (Texas Tech), would come across to score in the bottom of the third off the bat of Hunter Feduccia (LSU). Credit Fedduccia with a two out RBI single for Rockford. That RBI would mark his 21^st on the season.

After effective pitching from both starters for a majority of the night, Rockford would strike for two runs in the home half of the seventh inning. Catcher, Ryan Orr (SDSU), would have trouble finding a wild pitch out of the hand of starter Blaine Fisher (Pittsburgh State) of which would plate shortstop, Trevor Paradoski (Texas Tech). The wild pitch was followed by a Zach Reams RBI double to center field to bring Kian O’Brien (Madison College) home, 3-1 in favor of the Rivets.

Kalamazoo wasn’t done just yet. With runners at second and third in the top of the eighth, Ivan Estrella (Texas Rio Grande) would come through for the good guys with an RBI single to leftfield to bring home Connor Hollis. Matt Koehler advanced to third on the play. A wild pitch from newly inserted Dylan Stutsman (Indianapolis) would bring home Koehler to tie the game up at three a-piece. Estrella would end up scoring the third run of the inning after a Christian Moya (USC) single followed by a throwing error on third baseman, Brian Klein (Texas Tech), 4-3 Kalamazoo.

Rockford’s bats weren’t done just yet. Hunter Feduccia would lead off the home half of the eighth with a no-doubt solo shot out to right to knot it at 4-4.

Feduccia was hungry for more. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Hunter launched a moonshot into the Loves Park night, 5-4 your final in favor of Rockford.

Lukas Veinbergs (San Jacinto CC) went 5.0 strong for the Rivets, allowing one earned, on seven hits, while punching out four.

Blaine Fisher pitched 6.2 quality innings for Kalamazoo, allowing three earned, on five hits, striking out four in the process.

Connor Hollis went five for five with two stolen bases for the Growlers.

The Kenosha Kingfish come to town for two. First pitch tomorrow is set for 7:05 pm 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.