Kalamazoo, MI — After dropping a tight contest last night, the Kalamazoo Growlers (18-17, 2-1) responded in a massive way with a pair of 13-1 and 12-7 victories over the rival Battle Creek Bombers (14-24, 1-2) at Homer Stryker Field Thursday evening. The Growlers now even the 2019 I-94 Rivalry series at 4-4.
Game 1
The Growlers once again trailed early as the Jackrabbits knocked a RBI groundout in the opening frame to grab an early 1-0 advantage. Kalamazoo quickly answered in the ensuing frame on a two-run single from Austin Knight (Tennessee) to put the hosts in front 2-1.
Kokomo soon tied the score in the top of the second on a RBI double to make it 2-2. Kalamazoo went back ahead in the fourth as Dakota Kotowski laid down an infield bunt single to push the Growlers in front 3-2.
The Jackrabbits would not go away in the fifth as Chase Keng cranks a two-run blast to put the visitors ahead 4-3. Kalamazoo opened the offensive floodgates with a five-run sixth inning to take a commanding 8-4 edge. The Growlers tied the game as Zack Gelof (Virginia) scored on an error followed by the go-ahead RBI single provided by Jake Topolski (Duke) to make it 5-4.
Kalamazoo scratched across a pair of key insurance runs courtesy of a Drew Blakely (Virginia) two-run single and a RBI groundout from Shea Kramer (Utah) to stretch the margin to 8-4.
Growlers relief pitcher Dion Henderson (TCU) earns the win, improving to 1-2. Henderson tossed one scoreless frame of relief with one hit allowed and two strikeouts. Kokomo starter Creede Jeffers took the loss, falling to 0-3.
Game 2
Kalamazoo struck first in the opening frame on a Gelof RBI groundout to make it 1-0. In the second inning, Gabe Rivera (Univ. of Miami) drilled a lead-off triple and scored on an error to extend the advantage to 2-0.
The Growlers exploded again in the fifth inning with four runs on three hits to extend the advantage to 6-0. The frame began with a two-run single from Gelof followed by a sacrifice fly by Clay Owens (USC). Jimmy Sullivan (Virginia) capped the inning with a RBI single of his own.
Kalamazoo’s pitching staff combined for a stellar effort, allowing only one Kokomo run on two hits. Growlers starter David Toth (Hillsdale College) earned the win, improving to 1-1. Toth tossed four shutout frames with two hits allowed and four strikeouts. Jackrabbits starter Lucas Folmer took the loss, falling to 1-3.
Up Next
The Kalamazoo Growlers play their final doubleheader of the weekend tomorrow evening, facing the Kokomo Jackrabbits. First pitch is slated for a 5:05 p.m. start.
###
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Currently in its’ 26th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 200 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 (MIA). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.