KALAMAZOO, MI – After returning from a road trip, the Kalamazoo Growlers extended their win streak tonight to nine games in a 9-3 victory over the Kenosha Kingfish. Zach Daniels and Sam Crail led the way for Kalamazoo on offense in the middle of the order. Daniels went 2 for 3 with two runs, a walk, and an RBI. Crail went 3 for 4 with two RBI.

Pitcher Kyle Virbitsky and the Growler defense made things look easy with a quick 1-2-3 inning to get things rolling and the offense only picked from there. In the bottom of the first Kalamazoo loaded the bases off Kenosha’s Colton Johnson with no outs. Johnson walked Zach Daniels to bring the first run, Jordan Bowersox, home. Sam Crail followed with an opposite field RBI single, plating Jonathan Foster, and Jared Miller drew a bases loaded walk to bring in the final run of the inning.

Kenosha struck right back in third, earning three runs to tie the game. At the bottom of the third the Growlers regained the lead starting with a base hit up the middle from Niko Kavadas. Daniels followed with another single before Sam Crail hit his second RBI of the night. Jared Miller added another run with a fielder’s choice and two batters later came around to score on a George Mendazona single.

Late in the fifth the Growlers padded their lead when Daniels scored on another Miller RBI single. The Growlers finished their scoring in the sixth with a two out, two run, Jonathan Foster home run. Foster’s third of the season.

Virbitsky threw five innings for the Growlers allowing all three Kingfish runs and striking out two. Jeff Burch came on in relief in the sixth inning. He threw three scoreless innings, striking out four and walking one. In the ninth, Nikoh Mitchell threw a clean inning, striking out one batter, to close things out for Kalamazoo.

The Growlers and Kingfish face off again tomorrow at 7:05 PM at Homer Stryker Field for Hero Salute Night presented by Section 1776. Local military, law enforcement, and first responders will be recognized during the game.

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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.