WAUSAU, WI– Kalamazoo bats come out hot in game two with the Wisconsin Woodchucks.

The Growlers struck first in the top half of the first inning. Following a walk to Jack Duffy (Missouri State) and back to back hit-by-pitches to both Connor Hollis (Houston) and Jason Sullivan (Central Michigan), Matt Koehler (Western Carolina) came through again for the good guys with a 2-RBI double. Koehler went 4-4 in yesterday’s 9-8 victory with 3 RBIs.

The Chucks would get one back in the bottom half following back to back errors charged to Ivan Estrella (Texas Rio Grande) to plate Tristan Clarke (New Orleans) off the bat of Brylie Ware (Oklahoma), 2-1 Kalamazoo.

In top of the third inning Ivan Estrella would make up for his struggles defensively with an RBI single to send Connor Hollis home to extend the lead for Kzoo, 3-1.

An RBI-single for Trey Dawson (Chipola) with the bags full in the bottom of the fourth inning would plate another Woodchuck, 3-2 good guys.

Growlers would strike back in the top of the fifth. Centerfielder, Christian Moya (USC), would bring home Matt Koehler on a sacrifice-squeeze play. It would be followed by an RBI-single for Ryan Orr (San Diego State), 5-2 Kalamazoo.

In the home half second baseman, Ivan Nuñez (Hillsborough CC), would come through for the Chucks with an RBI-single to plate Tristan Clarke, still 5-3.

For the second time on the night, Christian Moya would successfully put down a sacrifice-squeeze to bring Matt Koehler across the plate for the Growlers. The small ball would be followed by RBI-singles for both Ryan Orr and Michael Diffley (San Diego State), 8-3 in favor of the visitors.

The hometown guys would get another in the bottom of the seventh. Tristan Clarke would score after a two out RBI-single for Brylie Ware.

The Growlers weren’t done just yet. In the top of the eighth inning, Ivan Estrella would come through for Kalamazoo with a 2 RBI-double. The Estrella double would be followed by an RBI-single off the bat of Ryan Orr, his second RBI-single on the night. Credit first baseman, Stephen Dubb (USC), with an RBI on a fielder’s choice.

Connor Hollis would smack his first homerun on the season out to straightaway center, 13-4 in favor of the Growlers.

The Woodchucks would score one more in the bottom of the ninth. It wasn’t enough as the Growlers walk away with a two-game sweep over the Wisconsin Woodchucks, 13-5 in the second of two.

Tyler Drabick (Kent State) was consistent all night on the bump for Kalamazoo. He went 8.0 innings pitched, allowing two earned, on four hits, while striking out five in the process.

Growlers head for Rockford tomorrow to take on the Rivets for two. Game one is scheduled for 5:05 ET.

 

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The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. 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, more than 170 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 portal. For more information, visit www.growlersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Growlers as your favorite team.​