KALAMAZOO, MI – If the Kalamazoo Growlers were to designate a kryptonite for this 2015 squad so far, it would be the early innings. Again the Kingfish of Kenosha attacked early, scoring 11 runs in the first three innings to an eventual 12-8 victory over Kalamazoo.

Though Kenosha ended the game with 12 runs, the Growlers (4-12) actually out hit the Kingfish (12-4) 14 to nine. Kalamazoo’s eight runs would have been enough for its fifth win of the season, but the defense let starting pitcher Derek Schneider (Western Michigan) down as it committed five errors in the third inning. Those five errors allowed six runs to cross the plate, which proved to be the difference.

Unlike previous Kingfish-Growler match-ups, Kenosha starting pitching was not dominant as starter Ryan Blanton (Madison College) only went five innings, with four Growler runs being charged to his ERA. The relievers for Kenosha also failed to keep runs from scoring as only one of the three relievers used succeeded in keeping Kalamazoo at four runs. When the lead is 12-4, though, the winning team can afford such an occurrence.

With Kenosha comes a storyline of repeating events as again, for the second night in a row, a Growlers’ starting pitcher exited early with a reliever, this time Ryan May (LSU) pitching 3.2 innings striking out three and not allowing a single earned run.

“Ryan redshirted this year so early on in the season the stamina and velocity wasn’t there,” Growlers’ Assistant Coach Cody Piechocki said. “But he is starting to get to shape.”

Even though another loss was added to Kalamazoo’s record, the recently stagnant offense came to life to slowly chip away at Kenosha’s 11-0 lead, as Kalamazoo had its highest hit total of the season.

Every hitter, from one to nine, had at least one hit with five of those hitters having a multi-hit night.

The big inning for Kalamazoo came in the seventh as the first three hitters, Justin Fletcher (Northern Illinois), Brandon Hughes (Michigan State) and Nick Yarnall (Pitt) went back-to back-to back  driving in two runs in the process. Two more runs were added for the Growlers after John Soteropolos (Cal) and Charles Leblanc (Pitt) added singles of their own.

“When you are down eleven runs you are more relaxed at the plate,” Piechocki said. “The guys are just putting the ball in play more often.”

Up next for Kalamazoo is a two game set against an Iowa squad as the Waterloo Bucks come to Homer Stryker Field.

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.