Kenosha, WI — The Kalamazoo Growlers (13-14) trailed by three runs entering the eighth inning before scoring four straight wins to secure an exciting 5-4 comeback triumph over the host Kenosha Kingfish (11-19) at Simmons Field Wednesday evening. The Growlers sweep the two-game road series and improve to 4-0 at Kenosha this season.
Kalamazoo struck first in the opening frame as Gabe Rivera (Univ. of Miami) grounded into a fielder’s choice to score Clay Owens (USC) and give the Growlers a 1-0 lead. Kenosha answered immediately in the ensuing frame as the Kingfish scratched the tying run across on an error to make it 1-1.
The Kingfish grabbed their first lead of the contest in the third inning on a RBI single by Zach Nogalski to push the hosts in front 2-1. Kenosha added an insurance run in the fifth on a Roberto Pena lead-off solo blast to stretch the advantage to 3-1 followed by a RBI triple from Charles Middleton in the seventh to increase the lead to 4-1.
Kalamazoo soon commenced its comeback trail in the top of the eighth. The rally began with a RBI double from Owens on his third hit of the night to cut the deficit in half at 4-2. Shea Kramer (Utah) followed with a RBI groundout to trim the margin to 4-3. On the very next batter again, Rudy Maxwell (Duke) tallied the game-tying RBI single to knot the score at 4-4.
The game went deep into extra innings before the Growlers broke the tie in the 11th on a clutch RBI single courtesy of Jimmy Sullivan (Virginia) to give Kalamazoo its first lead since the first inning.
Growlers relief pitcher Eamon Horwedel (Ohio Univ.) was stellar in relief, earning his first win of the season. Horwedel tossed three shutout frames, allowing just one hit, no walks and seven strikeouts. Kingfish reliever Colton Gordon took the loss, falling to 0-1.
The Kalamazoo Growlers return to the friendly confines of Homer Stryker Field tomorrow night for the opener of a two-game series versus the Rockford Rivets. First pitch is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start.
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