KALAMAZOO, MI – This evening's starting pitcher Austin Woodby (Ohio State) was special for the Growlers as he took a perfect game into the seventh inning against the Mankato MoonDogs. The Growlers were also able to get the job done at the plate and they won by a score of 2-1. 

Connor Smith (Western Michigan) got the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning for Kalamazoo thanks to his base hit. Jordan Verdon (San Diego State) was able to cross home plate on the play to give Woodby the lead as he went back to the mound in the third. 

Kalamazoo used some heads up base running in the fifth inning to add to their lead. Smith collected another hit to beging the inning and scampered around the bases on a pair of wild pitches to extend the Growlers' lead to 2-0. 

Six and 2/3 innings went by before the MoonDogs were finally able to get a runner on base against Woodby. Jake Shepski broke up the perfect game with a double into right field. Chase Hamilton followed up Mankato's first hit with a hit of his own and cut Kalamazoo's lead in half. 

Hayden Brauser (Pratt CC) and Austin Rodesky (Findlay) came out of the bullpen for Kalamazoo to shutout the MoonDogs during the finaly inning and 1/3 to complete the win. 

Woodby ended up allowing just one run on three hits and struck out four batters in just over seven innings of work during his first start this summer. 

Kalamazoo will wrap up their six game home stand tomorrow against the MoonDogs at 7:05 p.m. Jacob Piechota (Western Michigan) will be on the mound for the Growlers. 

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The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd 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 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.growlersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Growlers as your favorite team.