TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. —The Kenosha Kingfish dropped their sixth straight game in a row Thursday night after the Traverse City Pit Spitters swept the Thursday night doubleheader, winning the games by scores of 8-4 and 7-3.

The reason for Thursday’s doubleheader was to complete a game that was rescheduled due to rain on July 1, therefore, the game would resume going into the bottom half of the sixth inning with the Kingfish leading 4-3.

Although the Pit Spitters were starting the game trailing, it did not take them long to erase the deficit, scoring four runs in the bottom half of the sixth. The first run of the inning would come off an RBI-double by JT Smith, who drove in leadoff batter Cade Collins, who reached via a walk. Smith’s double was just the beginning of the sixth inning hit parade as three straight singles starting just two at-bats later by Mason Pilarski, Sean Martinez and Jacob Kucharczyk gave Traverse City a 7-4 lead.

After his RBI-single in the sixth, Mason Pilarski was also the pitcher for the remaining three innings of the game for the Pit Spitters, and shut the Kingfish down offensively. Pilarski would pitch all three of the final frames for Traverse City, allowing no runs and just two hits.

Before the end of game one, the Pit Spitters were able to add an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh as Zach Kucharczyk would reach base after drawing a walk, and would later score on a wild pitch after making his way around the bases with a stolen base and groundout.

To begin game two, the Kingfish were able to strike first in the top of the first as Noah Alvarez, who has been swinging a hot bat as of late, knocked a one-out single and would later score on an RBI-double by Hunter Synder.

The Pit Spitters would even the score in the bottom half of the second as an RBI groundout by Cody Freitas would drive in Zach Kucharczyk, making the score 1-1 after two innings of play.

The middle innings were quiet for the Kingfish, not scoring again until the sixth, however, the Pit Spitters were able to spoil what would have been a spectacular outing by Kenosha starting pitcher Hayden George with a three-run fifth inning. Just like game one, it was a series of three straight hits to break the game open in favor of Traverse City as the first three batters of the inning would reach base safely. Noah Gerrick led the inning off with a single, and after a stolen base he would make his way around to score on an RBI-single by Wyatt Epple. To finish the streak, an RBI-triple by Jacob Kucharczyk would plate Gerrick. The final run for the Pit Spitters would come off a sacrifice fly by Ethan Guerra, making the score 4-1 and ending George’s outing. George’s final line: five innings, four runs on five hits with three strikeouts.

The day would end after five innings for Traverse City starting pitcher Mason Compton as well, however his final line was much cleaner. Compton pitched five innings, allowing just one run on three hits and striking out six.

Noah Reeves was the reliever called on from the Pit Spitter bullpen, but his night would end after just 2/3 of an inning, where after a leadoff single by Noah Alvarez would put one runner on, he would walk three batters and plate a run for Kenosha before Josh Klug would be able to end the inning.

Now trailing by two runs in the seventh, the Kingfish were able to continue to cut into the deficit, scoring another run in the top half of the seventh inning. After a one-out single by Brian Gould, who would steal second in the following at-bat, Noah Alvarez would put runners on the corners with his third hit of the night. Bennett Shealor would later bring Gould home on a sacrifice fly, making the score 4-3 going into the bottom half of the seventh.

After a scoreless sixth on the mound for Kingfish pitcher Henry Johnson, he would come out to begin the seventh for Kenosha. After hitting the leadoff batter with a pitch, Ethan Guerra would collect his second hit and RBI of the night with a single, plating the first of three Pit Spitter runs in the seventh. Before exiting, Johnson would allow two more free passes, leaving the bases loaded for Blake Sivak to try and limit the damage. Unfortunately, Sivak would struggle early on the mound, allowing a four-pitch walk to the first batter he faced and allow one more run to score on a wild pitch in the next at-bat before collecting the final two outs, making Traverse City’s lead now 7-3 with six outs remaining for the Kingfish.

Traverse City turned to their All-Star reliever in Charlie Wolf in the final two frames, with the goal of maintaining the Pit Spitters’ four run lead and securing a doubleheader sweep over the Kingfish. Wolf would handle the challenge with ease, closing the door on the Kingfish, allowing just one hit and striking out two over the final frames and securing the 7-3 victory.

With their doubleheader sweep, the Pit Spitters now move to second in the Great Lakes East Division, just one game back from the Royal Oak Leprechauns who currently hold the top spot. In the midst of their losing streak, the Kingfish now fall to 13-13 in the second half and sit in fourth place, 4.5 games behind.

The Kingfish will play one more game in Traverse City Friday night before heading home for a rescheduled doubleheader against the Rockford Rivets. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CDT.