Kalamazoo, Mich. – The Kalamazoo Growlers return to Homer Stryker Field after the Wisconsin Woodchucks snapped the Growlers three-game winning streak. The Growlers welcome Wisconsin Rapids into Kalamazoo for their fifth and sixth meetings of the 2014 season. The series preview is below:

GAME INFORMATION

Who: Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (5-17) @ Kalamazoo Growlers (9-13)

When: Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. (ET) and Thursday at 7:05 p.m. (ET)

Where: Homer Stryker Field

TV: YouTube live stream

Gameday: Follow the pitch-by-pitch action on Pointstreak 

Twitter: Follow @kzoogrowlers for updates

Facebook: Updated throughtout the game for the ultimate fan experience.

PROBABLE STARTERS

Wednesday, June 18: Zach Jackson (1-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Ryan Colegate (1-0, 2.25 ERA)

Colegate (Ohio Dominican) is making his fifth start of season, including his fourth start at home. In his last start, the right-hander lasted 4 2/3 innings against the Rochester Honkers, allowing two runs off four hits. The sophomore has struggled with his command over his past two starts (eight combined walks), after posting seven strikeouts in six innings against Wisconsin Rapids on June 1.

Thursday, June 19: John Kravetz (0-3, 3.50 ERA) vs. Ryan Smoyer (1-0, 3.37 ERA)

Smoyer (Notre Dame) started the 2014 season in the bullpen for the Growlers, recording the first two saves in franchise history. The right-hander made his first start on Friday agaist the Honkers, allowing three earned runs while walking two and striking out one. The freshman out of Browling Green, Ohio has pitched to contact well so far this season, keeping his ERA at a respectable 3.37.

Lineups will be posted on Facebook and Twitter prior to first pitch.

LAST TIME THEY MET

June 10, 2014: Kalamazoo 14, Wisconsin Rapids 2

Box Score

June 11, 2014: Wisconsin Rapids 14, Kalamazoo 4

Box Score

GAME NOTES

• Ryan Lidge (Notre Dame) has split time with Brett Sunde (Western Michigan) behind the plate this season, but the Notre Dame product has been picking up his offensive play recently. After seeing his average drop to a season-low .174 on June 8 against the Kenosha Kingfish, Lidge has gone 7-for-15 since, including two RBI against the Rafters back on June 10. The freshman has now bumped his average up to .289 thanks to his recent hot streak
• Nick Yarnall (Pittsburgh) did not travel (illness) with the team to Wisconsin on Monday and saw his five-game hitting streak snapped against the Green Bay Bullfrogs on Sunday. During the streak, the freshman went 8-for-20, including a homer, two doubles and three RBI. Yarnall has been batting in the three-hole over the past week as well, being a catalyst for the Growlers' lineup during their recent turnaround.
• Troy Montgomery (Ohio State) also has been out the past two games due to a hand injury and is day-to-day for his recovery.

NORTHWOODS LEAGUE HONORS

–Player of the Night

• June 1- Nick Yarnall (3-4, HR, 3 R, BB)
• June 15- Jared Kujawa (3-4, RBI, R)

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

• After the two game homestand against Wisconsin Rapids, the Growlers will be back on the road. The team will head to Wisconsin for four games, two against the La Crosse Loggers and two against the Lakeshore Chinooks, both members of the South Division.