KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Growlers dropped their second straight game at home to the Green Bay Bullfrogs tonight with a final score of 5-4 at Homer Stryker Field. The defining inning in today’s ballgame was the bottom of the 7^th. Kalamazoo Growlers’ starting pitcher, Blaine Fisher, seemed to be rolling through 6 innings of work. Fisher was able to set down the first two batters of the 7^th inning, however, from that point forward Fisher seemed to struggle with location issues, and was not helped by the defense behind him. The Growlers’ pitching staff have struggled to throw strikes consistently the last few games and the top of the 7^th for Blaine Fisher was no exception. After getting the first few outs of the inning Fisher proceeded to hit Trent Bauer with a pitch, next Fisher walked Ben Chally and finally gave up a single to Aaron Pleschner which scored Bauer from second. With runners on second and third the Growlers were handed the final blow of the evening as a deep fly ball was hit out to left fielder Ryan Mergener. It appeared to be a playable ball to get the Growlers out of the inning and back in the dugout with the game tied 3-3, however, Mergener misplayed the ball costing the Growlers’ two unearned runs on the play. The Growlers were not able to come back from the 5-3 deficit.

The Growlers had very little offense in today’s ballgame ending the game with just 4 hits. Most of the offense occurred in the 2^nd inning. The inning was started when Nick Hutchins reached base on an error. This was followed up by an Ivan Estrella double that plated Nick Hutchins. Next, Andrew Huff hit a slow roller to the first baseman who also made an error and this scored Estrella from second. Eventually, Huff was moved over to 3^rd and was drove in with a sac fly by Jake Gleason. The Growlers were also able to tack on a homerun in the 8^th inning, thanks to Ryan Mergener. The Bullfrogs offense was led today by Aaron Pleshner who had 3 hits and a RBI, and Brad Hamilton who went 3 for 5 and a RBI.

The Growlers offense was completely shut down today by Green Bay’s starting pitcher Noah Miller. Miller pitched quickly and efficiently getting a lot of first pitch strikes, and with that Miller was able to use his off-speed pitches effectively as well. He ended the night throwing 9 strong innings only allowing 4 hits and 2 earned runs. Blaine Fisher’s night was nothing to scoff at either. He threw 6 and two thirds innings for the Growlers and only allowed 7 hits and 3 earned runs. The Growlers were just not able to provide any run support for Fisher, so he was handed an unfortunate loss.

The Growlers’ next game will take place in Wisconsin against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters as the Growlers will go on a brief 4 game road trip up in Wisconsin. The Growlers return to Homer Stryker Field on Tuesday, the 13^th and begin a 6-game homestand.

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The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 160 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM).  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 or on Google Play and set the Growlers as your favorite team.