Kenosha, Wisc. – The Kalamazoo Growlers were primed for a sweep over the Kenosha Kingfish on the road until a six-run explosion by the home team left the Growlers with no answers. Kenosha plated six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and then shut the door in the ninth, downing the Growlers by the score of 9-4 at Simmons Field.
Kalamazoo came out hitting everything in the top of the first inning. Camden Duzenack (Dallas Baptist) roped a two-RBI single to get the scoring going for Kalamazoo, as Sam Griggs (Southern Indiana) and Brandon Gomez (Nova Southeastern) came around to score the first runs of the game.
David Hensley (San Diego State) would continue the hit parade in the first, sending a double out to left field that scored Matt Lloyd (Iowa Western) and Gomez to give the Growlers the early 4-0 lead.
Kenosha would chip away at the lead throughout the game, making it a 4-3 game heading into the eighth. The Growlers used three pitchers that inning as the Kingfish score six runs, all of which were unearned. The Kingfish sent 10 batters to the plate and needed just four hits to plate the six runners.
Devin Pellien (Nova Southeastern), coming off being named a Northwoods League South Division All-Star, toed the rubber for Kalamazoo and was sensational through 7 1/3 innings before giving way to the bullpen. Pellien allowed four runs (two earned) off five hits to go along with five strikeouts and three walks in his sixth start of the season.
Gomez led the way offensively for the Growlers, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. TJ Marik (Austin Peay) picked up the other Growler hit in the fourth inning.
The Growlers (23-17) head back to Kalamazoo to take on the Madison Mallards in South Division play on Sunday. Kevin Marnon (Ball State) is set to make the start for the Growlers, as they face the second-place Mallards for the first time at home in 2016. First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m. from Homer Stryker Field.
###
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.