KALAMAZOO, MI – By the second inning, the Kalamazoo Growlers held a 4-0 lead over the Madison Mallards. Mallard starting pitcher, Dalton DSpain (Texas AM Corpus Cristi) only lasted 2.2 innings allowing five hits and walking three.
By the sixth inning, the Growlers (6-18) led 4-3. Come the seventh, Madison (12-11) scores three runs to take a 6-4 lead. At the end of nine innings, Kalamazoo loses its 18th game of the year, 7-4.
The errors, which have been a problem for the shortstop and first base position for Kalamazoo, were non-existent as a goose egg in the error column appears on the final boxscore.
Another problem for the Growlers, the bullpen, made yet another appearance. Ryan May (LSU) was the losing pitcher as he allowed three runs in his 1.2 innings of work.
Aaron Tadian (Kent State) pitched 1.1 innings while allowing one, and the final, Madison run.
Kalamazoo starter Sean Isaac (Vanguard) kept his team ahead through his five innings. Even though he allowed eight hits, only three runs crossed the plate during those five innings.
Mallard relief pitching was lights out, much like the previous Mallard-Growler matchup. The second reliever for the Mallards, the winning pitcher Corbin Olmstead (North Florida), went the final four innings. He allowed the most hits of any Madison pitcher tonight, but he locked down when it mattered. No runs crossed the plate during his time on the mound and he struck out four and did not walk a batter.
Kalamazoo cannot seem to catch a break so far this season. Whenever the offense picks up, the pitching slacks. Whenever the pitching is a dominant force, the offense is silent.
Struggling Bryce Adams (LSU) had a great day at the plate. The sub .200 hitter went 3-4 at the plate with two singles and a double.
Justin Fletcher (Northern Illinois) hit the second Growler home run, at Homer Stryker Field, over the short left field fence in the bottom of the first.
Kalamazoo will welcome the La Crosse Loggers into town tomorrow evening for a 7:05 p.m. game. It will be the first time Kalamazoo has seen the Loggers in the 2015 season.
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 21-year old summer collegiate 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, 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit http://www.northwoodsleague.com.