Battle Creek, Mich — In the inaugural game of the teams' rivalry, the Kalamazoo Growlers broke out for four runs in the fourth inning on their way to defeating the Battle Creek Bombers 5-1. The Growlers received a stellar pitching performance from Shane Bryant (Purdue University). Bryant scattered two hits through six innings and picked up his first win of the season. Cody Leichman (Central Michigan) got the bats going in the top of the fourth with the first home run in Growlers history, a towering shot to center field. This home run started a four-run fourth and the Growlers never relinquished the lead.
John Rubino (Eastern Michigan) knocked in his team-leading fourth RBI of the season in the top of the ninth to help seal the Kalamazoo victory. Tanner Tully (Ohio State) was on the losing end for the Battle Creek Bombers. He surrendered four runs in four innings of work. Brandon Van Horn knocked in the only Bomber run in the botom of the second inning.
The Growlers and Bombers will complete the home-and-home series in the Growlers' first home game in franchise history at Homer Stryker Field on Friday. The game is scheduled to start at 7:05 PM E.S.T.
The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods 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 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit http://www.growlersbaseball.com.