June 22, 2019

Contact: Bennett Wise, wisebm@miamioh.edu

The bats churn but Pit Spitters pull away late

Growlers get to within two but can’t complete the comeback

Traverse City, Mich., — The Kalamazoo Growlers (11-13) scored three unanswered runs before the Traverse City Pit Spitters (14-13) add two in the seventh to win 7-3.

The first inning was identical for starting pitchers Adam Wheaton (1-3, Trine) and Kyle Jones (3-1, Toledo) as they both retired the first two batters before each defense recorded an error. Each pitcher earned the final out in the next at bat.

Traverse City struck first in the third, on a single from Chris Faust (GVSU), double from Adam Proctor (MSU) and a triple from Michael Slaten (Benedictine). All would score and the Pit Spitters would lead 3-0 after three.

TVC tacked on two more in the fourth after Jake Arnold (North Georgia) had a leadoff double and would score on an RBI single in the next at bat from Nick Powell (Ball State). The Cardinal scored in the ensuing at bat as Hudson Byorick (Wofford) doubled into right field.

The Growlers earned a tick on the board in the sixth, on a pair of singles from Brooks Coetzee (Notre Dame) and Emilio Rosas (University of Southern California). Coetzee would score on the Rosas single after an error by Traverse City. Austin Knight (Tennessee) grounded out to short to score Rosas from third.

In the following at bat, Zach Gelof (UVA), reached base on a throwing error to first. The ball scampered into foul territory which allowed Gelof to move to second.

Shea Kramer (Utah) then singled and on the throw home, another error was committed Gelof scored.

Kalamazoo trailed 5-3 going into the seventh when Jake Wilson (BGSU) drove in two on a single up the middle for Traverse City to clinch the 7-3 victory.

The Growlers return to action tomorrow at 2:05 p.m. against the Pit Spitters. The series will continue at Pit Spitters Park in Traverse City, Mich.

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