Kalamazoo, MI – A five-run eighth jumpstarted a halted Kalamazoo Growlers offense, helping them take down their I-94 Cup Series rival, the Battle Creek Battle Jacks 6-2. 

Bright and early Wednesday morning following a win at Kenosha on Tuesday night, the Growlers faced a 1-1 Battle Creek team hoping to start their way to their first I-94 Cup Series title since 2017. Headed by first-year manager Chris Clark, the Battle Jacks scored one in the top half of the first inning on four consecutive singles from the middle of the order. Dave Alleva drove home the first run of the game with an opposite-field single.

Starting pitcher Blaine Wynk would go 4.2 IP not giving up a run while striking out five, walking three, and allowing two hits. 2.1 innings of relief work from Avery Mosseau and Dylan Howanitz giving up one unearned run plus a solo shot to right field by Josh Robinson made it 2-1 heading into the seventh inning stretch.

The bottom of the eighth is where the cards would flip on Tuesday afternoon. Three walks, two hits, and an error helped bring home five runs for Kalamazoo, shooting the Growlers into a secure lead. Holland Townes would shut it down in the ninth with two innings of relief work striking out three and not allowing a hit

The Growlers are back in action on Wednesday for another Education Day. 11:05 a.m. ET first pitch as Kalamazoo looks to sweep Battle Creek before opening night on Friday.

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The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 29th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, 300 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. 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.