KENOSHA, WI- The Kalamazoo Growlers needed 11 innings to finish off the Kenosha Kingfish by a score of 7-5 and complete a key early-season sweep of their South division rival.

A game that was deadlocked at five from the sixth inning on finally hit its breaking point in the 11th when the Growlers rallied for two runs. Donald Ring began the inning by being hit with a pitch, but could not be advanced on the attempted bunt by Parker Murdie. So with one out Donovan Clark singled down the line to put runners on the corners, and with the infield pulled in Jared Miller blooped a single into centerfield to bring in the go-ahead run.

The RBI single gave Miller his sixth RBI of the series. The Notre Dame infielder exploded on the road trip going 5 for 10 with a double and 6 RBI.

The Growlers would add another run in the 11th when Kenosha committed their fourth error of the ballgame, giving all the cushion necessary for Mason Shinabery to close it out.

Shinabery was awarded the win for a Growlers staff that escaped jam after jam throughout the night. The Kingfish stranded 18 runners on base, squandering many opportunities in the late innings.

The Growlers bullpen, relieving Connor Adams (4.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER), combined for 6.2 IP of shutout baseball. Austin Laurencig (3.1 IP), Sam Springer (1.1 IP), and Mason Shinabery (2.0 IP) did just enough to keep the window open for the late Growlers rally.

The Kingfish felt in control after five innings with a 5-2 lead, but an energetic three-run sixth inning from the Growlers tied the game. Three straight singles to begin the inning from Baron Radcliff, Zach Daniels and Brendan Rivoli plated the first of three important runs for Kalamazoo.

Brendan Rivoli had a big day for Kalamazoo going 3 for 5 in his best performance of the new season. Rivoli was one of five Growlers hitters who posted multi-hit performances, and was brilliant behind the plate defensively.

With the win Kalamazoo is now 5-0 away from Homer Stryker Field and 6-4 to start the season. The Growlers will now make the trip back to Homer Stryker Field for a two-game weekend series against the Green Bay Bullfrogs.

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The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Entering its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods 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, 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR).  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.