KALAMAZOO, MI – Coming off the largest comeback in Northwoods League history, and what Growlers’ Pitching Coach Pedro Sierra called the largest in organized baseball history, the Growlers’ returned to their old ways in a 7-0 loss to the Waterloo Bucks.

The early innings, which plagued Kalamazoo (5-13) throughout the season, were not so much a problem for it as the only run allowed through eight innings was off a homerun from Luke Stratman (Lamar Community College).

Growlers’ starting pitcher Sean Isaac (Vanguard), other than the solo shot, pitched one of the best outings for any Kalamazoo pitcher this season. Isaac went 5.2 innings only walking three while striking out four.

Kalamazoo’s bats, which came alive in last night’s ninth inning, were silent throughout as four hits came off Growlers’ bats. All four of those hits were singles and by looking at the final score, none of those four hits resulted in any runs scoring.

Waterloo (11-7) didn’t out hit Kalamazoo by much, seven to four, but again errors hurt the Growlers in Waterloo’s five run eighth inning.

Reliever Nathan Coakley (Saint Francis) was attempting to pitch out of a two on, one out jam when a series of errors and erratic pitching led to five runs crossing the plate and sending Nathan Coakley to the locker room.

Coakley has struggled this year for Kalamazoo. In nine innings pitched, Coakley has an inflated 14.00 ERA. His pitches haven’t been swing and miss, as he has also allowed 17 hits.

Kalamazoo will resume action tomorrow, entering the final half of a six-game homestand against the Wisconsin River Rafters.

The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 21-year old summer collegiate 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, 120 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 (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit http://www.northwoodsleague.com.