Behind an electric effort from Cam Schuelke (Fr, Florida Gulf Coast), the Traverse City Pit Spitters out-dueled Jared Herzog (Fr, Rockford University) and the Rockford Rivets 1-0 on Saturday night at Turtle Creek Stadium. 

The loss is Rockford’s fourth in their last five games and brings their second half record to 12-18. 

Neither Shuelke nor Herzog allowed any action in the first two innings, a sign of what was to come the rest of the evening. 

Herzog ran into a jam in the 3rd inning, allowing a lead off single and a one out walk. After a mound visit, Herzog bounced back to induce a ground ball to third. However, Brandon Bannon (So, Illinois-Springfield) couldn’t field it cleanly on the short hop, leading to a bases loaded situation. 

After inducing an infield pop fly to Chris Monroe (R-Jr, Central Michigan) for the second out, Herzog surrendered a bases-loaded walk to Trey Yunger (Fr, Wofford), which would prove to be the difference in the game.

On the other side of the scorecard, the Rivets ran into a scoring opportunity in the top of the 4th, as Schuelke hit back-to-back batters with one out, but Rockford failed to capitalize. Schuelke kept the Rivets out of the hit column until the 5th, when Charlie Allison (So, Black Hawk College) sent a ground ball up the middle for a single. 

Rockford’s second hit of the game came in the 6th inning, as Jack Cavanaugh (R-Jr, UW-Milwaukee) blooped a single into right field. Just moments later, he was picked off first by a swift move from Schuelke. 

Rivets manager JT Scara went to the bullpen in the bottom of the 6th, bringing in AJ Golembiewski (R-So, Illinois-Springfield) to replace Herzog. The long and lanky righty turned in his best outing of the season, tossing three shutout innings, striking out three without allowing a hit. 

Scheulke pitched through the 8th for Traverse City, posting a final line of 8 innings, two hits, three walks and seven strikeouts. 

‘Spitters closer John Beuckelaere (R-Jr, Madonna University) came on to pitch the 9th and struck out the side to end the ballgame. 

With the loss, Rockford finishes the season series with the Pit Spitters in Traverse City 0-6. 

The series comes back to Rockford tomorrow, with first pitch set for 6:05 central time.