WAUSAU, WI – The Kalamazoo Growlers came out of the All-Star Break the same way they went in, as the Wisconsin Woodchucks shut out the Growlers for the second consecutive game, winning 5-0 on Thursday night at Athletic Park.

The Woodchucks (9-9, 21-32) jumped on Kalamazoo’s defensive woes early. Ty Black (Ohio) reached on an error to lead off the first inning and then went to second base on another Growler error. Yusuke Akitoshi (Cal State Northridge) doubled in Black for the game’s first run and in turn came home on a wild pitch and a sac fly by Mason Fishback (Riverside City College).

Wisconsin added to its lead in the third with another unearned run. Jared Oliva singled with one out, then stole second and went to third when Alex Gosser’s (Arkansas) attempt to throw out Oliva sailed into the outfield. Oliva eventually scored when Justin Fletcher (Northern Illinois) misplayed Fishback’s groundball. The Woodchucks’ final two runs came in the seventh on a two-run Oliva single.

The Growlers (5-17, 13-42) stayed in the game thanks to solid pitching from Cole Schaefer (Coastal Carolina, 2-2). The Portage man allowed three runs (none earned) on four hits in six-plus innings, walking one and striking out seven on 93 pitches to take the hard-luck loss. Josh Alberius (Arkansas) allowed a pair of runs in his two innings of relief.

Dylan Dwyer (Kentucky, 4-4) earned the win with seven shutout innings. He allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out five on 81 pitches. Kevin Bolder (St. Cloud State) and Connor Kelly (Central Michigan) posted identical lines (one hit, two strikeouts, 13 pitches) in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.

John Soteropulos (California) went 2-for-3 for a Kalamazoo offense that has not scored in 24 innings. The Growlers’ last run came in the third inning of Saturday night’s 7-1 loss to the Woodchucks.

Oliva went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs to pace the Woodchucks. He also stole two bases his 19^th and 20^th straight successful steals to start the season. Black scored twice, while Akitoshi and Fishback each doubled.

The Growlers will play their eighth and final game against the Woodchucks on Friday night. First pitch from Athletic Park is set for 8:05 p.m. EDT.

The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 22-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.