Kalamazoo, MI – Lakeshore lose in a close fought battle on Tuesday by a score of 2-4 against the Growlers to start the 2016 season.

The Chinooks starter Tyler Hasper (Heartland Community College) tossed three and two-thirds innings. He gave up three runs, two of which were earned, on three hits. Hasper managed to strike out four, but had trouble finding the zone leading to five walks. He took the loss in his debut for the Chinooks.

In the second, Kurtis Brown (Richmond) advanced to first on a walk. He then scored on a Kevin Riley (Chaffey Community College) line-drive single later in the same inning.

Then in the fourth, a towering homerun by catcher Hayden Senger (Miami-Ohio) sailed over the left field wall, evening up the score at 2-2.

But Lakeshore could not get the bats going when they needed to, stranding a total of nine runners that could have made a difference down the stretch.

Chinooks relievers Chris Choles (North Dakota State) and Zach Reeg (Augustana) combined for four and one-third innings of work. Choles gave up one run on two hits in two and one-third innings, and Reeg hurled one strike out in his two innings on the mound.

The winning pitcher was Kalamazoo's starting pitcher Tate Brawley (Kellogg Community College). He gave up two runs on six hits. He struck out two and issued two walks in six and one-third innings. Reliever Jordan Gonzalez (Pacific) pitched the ninth, earning the save and securing the Growlers their first win of the season.

The Chinooks continue their road trip again on Wednesday in Kalamazoo. They take on the Waterloo Bucks on Thursday and Friday. The team then returns home for their home opener against the Green Bay Bullfrogs on Saturday.

The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 23-year old summer collegiate 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 140 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 website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com.