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Published On: July 9th, 2019

July 8, 2019

Contact: Bennett Wise, wisebm@miamioh.edu

Kalamazoo puts up an even 14 runs on 28 hits in the series for their sixth straight win

 

Rockford, Ill. — The Kalamazoo Growlers defeated the Rockford Rivets 8-3 to sweep the series and improve to 22-17 on the season. 

Spencer Juergens (1-1, Missouri) went a season-high 7.0 innings and earned his first victory as a Growler. Juergens only allowed six hits and two earned runs, while striking out four Rivets in the process. 

The offense started for Kalamazoo in the second when Jake Topolski (Duke) drilled a two out double to score Shea Kramer (Utah). 

KZoo held the lead at 1-0 until the fourth when Miko Rodriguez (Texas A&M) sent Kramer and Clay Owens (U of Southern California) home on a single. 

The Growlers once more in the fifth on a pair of errors by Rockford to bring home Rudy Maxwell (Duke) and tacked on three more in the sixth. 

Topolski led off the sixth with a single and would move up to third on a pair of groundouts. With two away, Zack Gelof (UVA) drove in his ACC foe on a single. In the ensuing at bat, Gelof stole second and came all the way around to score on a Maxwell RBI single. Gabe Rivera (Miami (FL)) then knocked his fourth double of year to score Maxwell.

The Growlers led 7-0 moving to the bottom of the seventh when the Rivets finally scored on two run triple by Josh Dudden (Creighton), to score Cam McDonald (Illinois) and Matt Higgins (Bellarmine).

Kalamazoo scored one more on a sacrifice fly from Rodriguez to bring in Jimmy Sullivan (UVA). 

Rockford cut into the deficit in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI single from Easton Murrell (Texas Tech) but the final score would be 8-3. 

Nate Schneiderman (3-1, Dubuque) earned his first loss of the year.

The Growlers return to action tomorrow at Capital Credit Union Park in Ashwaubenon, Wis., against the Green Bay Booyah. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. CT, 8:05 p.m. ET.

 

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