KALAMAZOO, MI – Tonight's contest between the Kalamazoo Growlers and the Lakeshore Chinooks was decided by just two hits. Lakeshore got those two big hits in the fourth and ninth innings and held on to beat the Growlers by a score of 5-2 this Fourth of July. 

Connor Kopach (Southern Illinois) was able to get Kalamazoo off to a great start in this one. He was the first Growler to step up to the plate tonight and sent a 1-1 fastball just over the left field wall to make it a 1-0 advantage for the Growlers. 

The 1-0 lead for Kalamazoo lasted until the fourth inning. Darius Sewell found himself in a 1-2 hole during his second at-bat of the game for the Chinooks, but took advantage of the short porch in right field and sent the fourth pitch that he saw over the wall. Sewell chose the correct time to hit his fourth home run of the season as there were two runners on base and gave Lakeshore a 3-1 lead. 

The Growlers were able to cut into the deficit in the bottom half of the seventh inning. Trey Ganns (Northern Kentucky) took advantage of a pair of wild pitches by the Chinooks and made his way around the bases to score and make it a 3-2 ball game. 

Lakeshore added two insurance runs to their lead in the ninth thanks to a base hit by Royce Ando. They were able to shut the Growlers down in the bottom half of the frame and held on to win by a score of 5-2. 

Kalamazoo starting pitcher, BJ Butler (Ball State), was impressive again on the mound this evening. Butler tossed seven innings and only allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and struck out eight batters. 

Both teams will be back in action tomorrow night at Homer Stryker Field for Bell's Tuesday Brewsday. Local product Grant Wolfram (Hamilton HS) will be on the mound in this one which is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. 

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The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods 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, more than 150 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). 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 and set the Growlers as your favorite team.