Kalamazoo, MI. — The visiting Traverse City Pit Spitters tallied seven runs on five hits in the seventh inning to break the scoreless tie, cruising to an 8-1 win over the Kalamazoo Growlers at Homer Stryker Field Monday evening. The Pit Spitters take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Both teams were held scoreless through the first six frames before the Pit Spitters posted a huge crooked number in the seventh to grab a commanding lead. The inning commenced with a two-run single by Mario Camilletti followed by Hudson Byorick scoring on a wild pitch. Andrew Morrow then drilled a RBI triple followed by a Christian Faust two-run single to make it 6-0. Nick Powell then capped-off the frame with a RBI single.

Kalamazoo got on the board in the bottom of the seventh courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Khale Showers (Northwood) to cut the deficit to 7-1. Traverse City added an insurance run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly as well to make it 8-1. 

Traverse City starter Chad Patrick earned the win, improving to 5-4. Kalamazoo starting pitcher JT Rogoszewski (Central Michigan) took the loss, falling to 3-2. Rogoszewski allowed no runs in his first six frames of work before the Pit Spitters offense exploded in the seventh.

The Kalamazoo Growlers travel north tomorrow evening for game two of the series versus the Pit Spitters. First pitch is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start.

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