GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Rockford Rivets had an eight run third inning, only to blow a huge early advantage as the Green Bay Bullfrogs came back to take the opener of a two-game series, 17-13, on Tuesday night at Joannes Field.
With Rockford down 2-1 in the third, Kian O’ Brien (Madison Tech) walked, Neal Tyrell (Lewis University) singled, and Ryan Long (Texas Tech) walked to start the inning. After Hunter Hargrove (Texas Tech) walked to tie the game, Jordan Hovey (Missouri State) launched a grand slam to right field to give the Rivets a 6-2 lead. O’ Brien would later add a two-run single to make it 9-2.
But the Rivets pitching staff struggled to slow down the Bullfrogs bats, and in the sixth with a 13-8 lead, the wheels came off. Colton Onstott (Dodge City CC) walked and Laren Eustace (Indiana) singled. Brad Hamilton (Kent State) then walked and Josh Hollander (Kent State) singled a run home to make it 13-9. Chris Botsoe (Louisville) then reached on an error that scored two runs, and that was followed by a Marcus Shoemaker (Lenoir-Rhyne) single to score a run. After Parker Coss (UC-Irvine) walked, the Rivets brought in debutant Josh Willis (Chicago State). But the left-hander hit Quincy Nieporte (Florida State) and Austin Clemons (Louisville) walked to give Green Bay the lead. Onstott added a sacrifice fly off Willis (0-1) to extend the Bullfrogs lead which they would not surrender
The Rivets were not able to rally against Madison Tech relievers Dominick Golibiewski (1-0) and BJ Sabol (Indiana) as Rockford did not score after the fifth inning.
The Rivets will wrap up the two game series against the Green Bay Bullfrogs at Joannes Stadium Wednesday night at 7:05. Broadcasts and live streams can be found at NorthwoodsLeague.com.
Rockford is a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League, which will play its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016. 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 (Washington Nationals) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (Chicago White Sox), Jordan Zimmermann (Detroit Tigers), Curtis Granderson (New York Mets), Lucas Duda (Mets) and Ben Zobrist (Chicago Cubs). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website, NorthwoodsLeague.com. For more information, visit RockfordRivets.com.