KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Growlers were able to bounce back from last night’s loss to split the series with the Madison Mallards, topping the team 3-2 today at Homer Stryker Field.

The Mallards took an early lead over the Growlers and an error made by Sullivan lead to the Mallards’ Mitchell Jr. hitting a home run in the top of the 2nd to make the scoreboard 1-0 in Madison’s favor. The Mallards’ Jeffrey Mitchell Jr. went 3 for 4 with a hit pitch in the 4th inning. Cole Daily brought in an RBI and Thomas Smart, with a solid bunt to give the Mallards a 2-0 lead over the Growlers, in the 4th inning.

Javier Martinez stepped up to the plate to give the Growlers more life in the top of the 8th with a single ground double. Martinez went 2 for 3 on the day. Jeff Riedel then fed off Martinez and knocked a home run out of the park bringing the game to a 2-2 even match. Riedel has a batting average of .333 on the season thus far. With Riedel going to the bullpen rowed up, Sullivan went up to the plate and was walked to be the advance runner with the new pitcher, Will Anderson, freed up, Hutchins advanced to 2nd and brought in Sullivan for a double RBI on the day. The Mallards got one last chance to take the lead at the top of the 9th, with Thomas Smart being advanced to 3rd base, Cade Bunnell came up to bat and hit a line drive to Zeigler in mid field to close the game out. The Growlers finish the series 1-1 and go back to a .500 record of 4-4, placing them in 4th place on the season.

The Growlers play the Green Bay Bullfrogs at Homer Stryker Field with a 7:05 PM EST starting pitch tomorrow. There will be a two game series between the Bullfrogs and the Growlers to begin their first 2017 season matchup.

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The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.growlersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Growlers as your favorite team.