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 4^th and then added two more in the 6^th. 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 8^th and 9^th innings. Ligba got some run support in the bottom of the 8^th, 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 4^th inning. Connor Kopach (Southern Illinois) had two hits for the Growlers, including a beautiful bunt in the 6^th. Dalton Combs (Huntington) made a great sliding catch in the 8^th 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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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 22-year old summer collegiate 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 140 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 via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com.