The Kalamazoo Growlers survive a late scare from the Rochester Honkers, who sent eight across in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough as the Growlers shut the door on a Honkers comeback, winning 11-8.

The Growlers pitching staff carried a no-hitter through eight innings, the longest a team has been no-hit all season. Kingfish pitcher Rigo Beltran tossed a no-hitter on July 2 against Rockford in a seven-inning game.

Kalamazoo came out hot offensively, scoring eight runs in the top of the second inning. Brandon Gomez (Nova Southeastern) hit two homeruns in that frame, a solo shot to start the inning and then a three-run homer in his second at-bat of the inning. Gomez paced the Growlers offensively, going 4-for-5 with two homeruns and four RBI.

Trey Gantt (Ohio State) also joined Gomez with a home run of his own, sending a grand slam over the right field wall in the second inning as well. Gantt also homered eighth, giving him a 2-for-4 night with two homeruns and a team-high four RBI. The two homeruns were Gantt’s first of the season.

The Honkers stormed back in the ninth inning however, scoring eight runs on just two hits. The Growlers used three different pitchers who all struggled to find the zone, totaling seven walks and one hit-by-pitch. The Kalamazoo pitching staff totaled 14 walks to just four strikeouts overall.

Devin Pellien (Nova Southeastern) earned his fourth victory of the season, tossing five shutout innings while striking out two and walking four.

For the Honkers, Jackson Douglas (Iowa Western) received the loss, allowing eight runs off eight hits over two innings of work.

The Growlers (25-21) head back home for a two-game series against the Rockford Rivets before the All-Star break. In Game 1, Austin Rodesky (Findlay) will be making his first start of the season for Kalamazoo. Rodesky has been the closer for Kalamazoo since being added, ranking in the top-5 in saves in the Northwoods League. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. EST.

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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  northwoodsleague.com/kalamazoo-growlers/ or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Growlers as your favorite team.