Wisconsin Rapids, WI – The Kalamazoo Growlers managed just four hits, and were shutout for the first time this season as they lost to the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 10-0 at Witter Field on Thursday night.
Tanner Andrews (Purdue) struck out four over five innings of work and allowed just three runs for the Growlers, only two of which were earned, but he walked five as well, and the Growlers pitching staff struggled to find the plate as a whole, walking eleven in total.
The Rafters (9-7) got the scoring started with three runs in the bottom of the 4th and then added two more in the 6th. The Growlers had threatened with some base runners up to that point, but the Rafters starter, Chris Cooper, was fantastic, throwing seven shutout innings, while scattering four hits and a walk against six strikeouts to earn the win. Eric Ligba then entered in relief for the Rafters and struck out six of the seven Growlers he faced in the 8th and 9th innings. Ligba got some run support in the bottom of the 8th, as the Rafters added five runs to break the game open.
While the Growlers managed only four hits, one of them was from Dan Robinson (Central Michigan) who extended his hitting streak to 15 games with an infield single in the 4th inning. Connor Kopach (Southern Illinois) had two hits for the Growlers, including a beautiful bunt in the 6th. Dalton Combs (Huntington) made a great sliding catch in the 8th on a ball that was certainly headed for the left-center gap with the bases loaded and nobody out.
The Growlers have a good chance to redeem themselves tomorrow night with a chance to split the series at Witter Field with B.J. Butler (Ball State) on the mound. Butler is 2-0 in two starts for the Growlers and has allowed just one run, which was not earned. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 EDT from Witter Field.
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