KALAMAZOO, MI – This afternoon's contest began with the looks of a turnaround for the Kalamazoo Growlers; who have lost eight of their last ten games. Kalamazoo got off to a hot start with two runs in the first, but once again did not get what they needed on the mound to win the game in what ended in a 17-7 Madison Mallards victory. 

Nick Hutchins (Southern Illinois) continued to stay hot at the plate for the Growlers as he picked up his 43rd RBI of the season on a double that plated Connor Kopach (Southern Illinois). Dan Robinson (Central Michigan) collected hit first of three RBIs this afternoon shortly after on a base hit that brought Hutchins home. 

Madison was then able to score 12 unanswered runs in the middle frames to take complete control of this ball game. The Mallards seemed to feed off of eachother at the plate, as they strung together double after double throughout these frames to virtually put the Growlers away early. 

Kalamazoo attempted to scratch their way back into the game in the sixth and seventh innings as they were able to cut the Mallards' lead down to 12-7. Hutchins scored the lone run in the sixth on a drop third strike that ended up all the way back at the backstop. Sam Griggs (Southern Indiana) earned a bases loaded walk in the seventh that brought Evan Cheng (Youngstown State) in from third. Robinson followed up the walk with a double into the left-center gap that brought Hutchins and Kevin Phelps (Indiana-South Bend) home. Kasey Cooper (Arkansas Fort Smith) picked up the final Kalamazoo RBI with his base hit that scored Griggs. 

Madison was able to follow up Kalamazoo's two strong innings with five runs in the top half of the eighth inning to put the Growlers away for good and win the game by a score of 17-7. 

The Growlers used six pitcher in total this afternoon in a game that featured 17 Madison hits and 15 of the 17 runs went down as earned runs. 

Kalamazoo will now hit the road for series against the Rockford Rivets and the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters before returning back home to face the Rivets in the final series of the season on August 13-14. 

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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.