June 26, 2019

Contact: Bennett Wise, wisebm@miamioh.edu

 

Kalamazoo never trailed in the 8-4 victory over Kenosha 

 

Kenosha, Wis. — The Kalamazoo Growlers defeated the Kenosha Kingfish 8-4, with nine of the Growlers ten hits being singles. 

The small ball tactics paid off as the Growlers put up one run in the first on an RBI single from Miko Rodriguez (Texas A&M), to score Shea Kramer (Utah). 

Kalamazoo tacked on two more in the second due to Austin Knight (Tennessee) leading off with a base knock and stealing second in the ensuing at bat. Knight was driven home on an RBI single from Clay Owens (University of Southern California). Following Owens, Kramer grounded into a fielder’s choice and would score two batters later on an RBI single from Gabe Rivera (University of Miami). 

In the third, it became 4-0 when Knight sacrifice bunted to score Jake Topolski (Duke). 

Kenosha got on the board in the fourth on an RBI single from Roberto Peña (Florida) to make it 4-1, Growlers

Kalamazoo would not respond with a run until the sixth, when Kramer reached on an error and scored Drew Blakely (UVA), who led off the inning with a single. Following Kramer, Zach Gelof (UVA) had the only extra base hit for the Growlers on a two-run double to score Kramer and Owens. 

The Kingfish cut into the deficit in the eighth, as Peña notched his second RBI hit to score Mike Jarvis (SDSU). 

The Growlers added insurance in the ninth on a pickoff attempt after a double steal by Rodriguez and Brooks Coetzee (Notre Dame). Rodriguez scored to make it 8-2 KZoo.

Kenosha threatened in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI double from Nate Thomas (St. Joseph’s) and a sacrifice fly from Ryan Knernschield (EIU) to put the final score at 8-4.

Braydon Nelson (3-0, St. Bonaventure) earned his third straight win after going a season high 6.2 innings, giving up one earned run, seven hits, three walks and three strikeouts. Caleb Larson (0-2, Illinois) earned the loss after tossing three innings with seven hits and four earned runs.

The Growlers go for the series sweep tomorrow at 8:05 C.T. from Simmons Field.

 

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