LaCrosse, Wisc.- The Growlers benefited from a four run first inning and good pitching by starter Shane Bryant (Purdue) gave the Growlers an 8-2 victory in the first game of a two game series against the LaCrosse Loggers on Monday night at Copeland Park in LaCrosse WI.

A two RBI double by John Brodner (Wright State) paced the big 1st inning for Kalamazoo and Karl Sorenson (St.Cloud State) slugged his eight home run of that year-a two run shot in the 3rd, giving the Growlers a 6-1 lead which the they never relinquished. Bryant scattered seven hits and earned his 5th win of the year for the Growlers, who improved to 14-18 in the 2nd half of the year in the South Division.

Kalamazoo remains in 7th place in the division with the win, their third straight over the Loggers. LaCrosse fell to 10-22 and remained in last place in the South Division. Both teams meet on Wednesday for the series finale with first pitch starting at 7:05pm (Central Time).

The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st 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 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel.  For more information, visit http://www.growlersbaseball.com.