Rockford, IL – After coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Wisconsin Woodchucks Thursday night, the Lakeshore Chinooks had the chance for a fresh start Friday night as they hit the road to take the Rockford Rivets where they would fall 4-1 in game one of a two game series.

The Rivets struck early in the bottom of the first off Chinooks starter Keenan Bartlett (Richmond) who took the mound for his fifth start of the season with a 1.82 ERA in 29.2 innings of work. Michael Smith (San Jacinto JC) led off the order with a single, stole second and then advanced to third on a pop out. Smith would later cross the plate after a fly out from David Cornin (UIC) to make it 1-0 Rivets.

In the top of the fourth the Rivets continued to add on runs. Cornin stepped up to the plate and advanced to first off a single to right. Hunter Hargrove (Texas Tech) reached first off an error in the field, but got picked off for out number one. Unfortunately, the error allowed Cornin to score and made it 2-0 Rivets. Marijn Van Berkel drew a walk which brought up Ryan Long (Texas Tech) who hit a two run homer and gave the Rivets a solid 4-0 lead.

Bartlett would go scoreless for the rest of the night and be the only pitcher to take the mound for the Chinooks. He finished with a solid eight innings, gave up only four hits and one walk, while racking up 12 strikeouts.

On the mound for the Rivets was righty pitcher Drake Robison (Iowa) who came into the game with a 4.31 ERA and made his sixth appearance for the Rivets.

The Chinooks would strike on Robinson in the top of the fifth where they would score their only run of the game. Kevin Riley (Chaffey CC) led the Chinooks off with a double to left and advanced to third on a pop out. Zac Taylor (Houston) brought Riley home after he popped out for out number two, but put the Chinooks on the board 4-1.  

Robinson would go 7.1 innings for the Rivets and only gave up one run. Jacob Ruder (Cowley) would take Robinson’s place on the mound in the top of the eighth and held the Chinooks scoreless through his 1.2 innings of work and helped seal the 4-1 win for the Rivets.  

The Lakeshore Chinooks 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 http://northwoodsleague.com/lakeshore-chinooks or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Chinooks as your favorite team.