KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Growlers swept the Rockford Rivets in a doubleheader Saturday at Homer Stryker Field. The wins move the Growlers' record to 19-18 (28-43 overall).

The Growlers won the first game 2-0 thanks to a dominant performance by Justin Palmbos. He pitched all seven innings, giving up only two hits and one walk with two strikeouts.

The game’s only offense came in the third inning. LA Woodard walked and advanced to third base after a groundout and wild pitch. Jeff Riedel and Drew Huff then walked, leaving the bases loaded for Matt Koehler. Koehler singled, bringing in the only two runs of the game.

The second game saw the Growlers win 4-1. Jeff Riedel started the scoring in the first inning, when he hit a two run home run to left field. Jason Sullivan then reached base and scored from second on a Drew Huff single, making it 3-0 Growlers.

In the third inning, Matt Koehler stepped to the plate with the bases full. He grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, allowing Jeff Riedel to cross the plate to make it 4-0.

The Rivets got one run back in their half of the third. With a man on second base, Neal Tyrell doubled off of Growlers starter Zane Gonzalez to make it 4-1 Kalamazoo.

George Lamb replaced Gonzalez on the mound for the Growlers in the fifth. He pitched two innings and recorded five strikeouts before handing the game to Drew Huff, who closed it out.

Today’s wins made it five straight victories for the Growlers with one game remaining on the Northwoods’ League schedule. Kalamazoo and Rockford will play their final game Sunday at 3:05 p.m. Rockford needs to win in order to make the Northwoods League Divisional playoffs.

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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 180 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.