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Kalamazoo, Mich. – After an 18 hit and 11 run outburst between the Kalamazoo Growlers and Lakeshore Chinooks on Friday night, the fireworks did not carry over to Saturday's contest, as both teams were only able to put one run each on the board through six innings.
The Chinooks (3-1) were able to break open the 1-1 tie in the seventh inning, scoring two runs after Growlers starter Dillon Haviland (Duke) start came to an end. Lakeshore added two more insurance runs late in the game to give them the series sweep and the 5-1 victory over Kalamazoo.
The pitcher's dual between Haviland and the Chinooks starter Joe Pavlovich (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) lasted through six innings until Lakeshore broke the scoring drought. A hit-by-pitch and a Carter White (Memphis) single for the Chinooks ended Haviland's night and gave way to Kalamazoo's bullpen, who have been struggling in the team's inaugural season.
Newcomer Eric Hall (Chicago State) made his debut for the Growlers and loaded the bases after hitting the first batter he faced to load the bases for the Chinooks. Lakeshore leadoff hitter Blake Butler (College of Charleston) roped a deep line drive for the sacrifice fly that brought home Ryan Larson (Florida), who entered the game as a pinch runner in the seventh inning. Brett Siddall (Canisius College) would add an insurance run with a two-out single later in the inning.
Haviland left the game after 6 1/3 innings pitched with only one run on the board for both teams. The two inherited runners would score, adding two more earned runs to the Duke Blue Devil's final line. The left-hander allowed just three hits to the Chinooks, while striking out three as well as walking three. That is now back-to-back solid starts for Haviland, who has regained the command he possessed earlier in the season.
Karl Sorensen (St. Cloud State) scored the only run for the Growlers, after he tripled past the diving Connor McKay (Kansas) in left field, followed by a Nick Yarnall sacrifice fly to bring Sorensen home. Two more hits for the third baseman bumped his batting average up to .381 through five games with Kalamazoo.
Jalen Phillips (Duke) broke his five-game hitless streak on Friday and picked up a couple more hits against the Chinooks on Saturday, as the first baseman went 2-for-3. Phillips does posses some power, as five of his 14 hits have been of the extra-base variety.
Western Michigan standout Jared Kujawa extended his hitting streak to seven games after he picked up a single in his final at-bat of the game. The outfielder also has seven RBI in his past five games for the Growlers.
The Growlers continue their four-game homestand on Sunday, welcoming the Madison Mallards to Homer Stryker Field for a two-game series. Kalamazoo is 1-3 against the defending Northwoods League champions so far in 2014 and look to pick up their first win of the second half. Sunday is Eaton Family Fun Day at the ballpark, as well as Junior Golf Night presented by Milham Golf Course. The second Growlers' baseball card set will also be given away prior to the game.
The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods 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, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit http://www.growlersbaseball.com – See more at: http://northwoodsleague.com/kalamazoo-growlers/2014/07/05/growlers-cant-muster-fireworks-fall-7-4/#sthash.biwB6bh2.dpuf
