Spectacular starting pitching on Thursday night kept any and all offense at bay. Through the first seven innings between the Jackrabbits and Kingfish, a total of 19 strikeouts were recorded from both teams’ starters. 

Despite Kokomo starter Dillon Fischer’s best efforts inning after inning, a one run deficit after seven innings was his only fault. The 6’5 220 pound right hander was more than fantastic on the bump, silencing 10 batters on one unearned run, allowing just three hits. 

One would think after a spectacular outing Fischer gave, that a win wouldn’t be too far around the corner. But, offense in the late innings handed Kenosha the 4-1 win. Fischer succumbed just one run in his outing, coming off the likes of an error early in the first inning. 

However, regardless of Fischer’s 10 strikeout outing, the Jackrabbits were bested by the starter residing in the first base dugout. 

Kenosha starter Eric Orloff had the slightest advantage over Kokomo, thanks to a first inning error which cost Kokomo an unearned run. Pitching with a 1-0 lead after the first, Orloff was allowed just enough breathing room to keep the momentum on Kenosha’s side. 

Orloff went six innings of zero runs, fanning nine batters on four hits en route to his victory.

The closest Kokomo’s offense got to a run on Orloff came in the sixth. Orloff was on tilt, having loaded the bases and leaving the go-ahead run at second base. But, with one out and the bases clogged, Orloff got Aidan Schenk to strike out on a 3-2 fastball. Two pitches later and the bases still loaded, Kokomo’s Jake Lambdin flew out to center, leaving four base runners stranded in a crucial moment. 

After Kokomo’s offense couldn’t convert in the bottom of the sixth, Kenosha’s offense sealed the deal in the eighth and ninth innings. 

Back-to-back singles from Kenosha’s Sebastian Mueller and Michael Perazza plated two insurance runs for the Kingfish. After eight, Kenosha led 3-0 with just one more inning left of work. 

In the ninth, Jackrabbits Jack Anderson had one last thing to say before the last out. Anderson sent a line drive past the diving glove of center fielder Robert Newland for a solo inside-the-park home run. Two more pitches later, Kenosha put the seal on their 4-1 victory.

The Jackrabbits will finish off a two-game series against the Kingfish on Friday, August 2nd at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. 

Article written by Charlie Huiras