By Luc Carter

It was education day at Honor Credit Union Stadium in Kalamazoo Wednesday morning as
3,391 screaming young fans on field trips would pack the stands for game two of the series between
the 2-5 Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and the 7-3 Kalamazoo Growlers.

The Growlers would jump out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning. Chance Hutson doubled with one
out and then stole third base. A fielder’s choice from Phillip Thigpen would bring Hutson home.
After the one run in the first Rafters starting pitcher Kade Irons would begin to cruise as he
would pitch four consecutive scoreless innings after the first. He would strike out six on the day and
finish with just the one earned run only giving up four hits and one walk.

The Rafters offense would pick Irons up in the 3rd inning when Zach Gingrich extended his
hitting streak to five games with an RBI single into center field to score Dylan Frank to tie the
game at 1-1.

In the top of the 4th inning, Carter Bennett stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and one
out. He lined a ball into right center that brought home two runs to put Wisconsin Rapids on top 3-
1, the first two RBI of the season for Bennett.

In the sixth inning, the Rafters turned to the bullpen. Nikolas Haas was the first out of the
bullpen. He walked the first three Growlers he faced. Alex Adams came up with the bases loaded
and he flared a ball down the right field line that just stayed fair for a double to score two runs for
the Growlers to tie the game. Then right fielder Jake Zehner would commit a throwing error
which allowed a third run to score on the play and Adams would move up to third base making
the score 4-3 Growlers. The next batter, Tylor Morehouse, would hit a sacrifice fly to score
Adams, making it 5-3 Growlers. That would do it for Haas and Logan Gruber would come into
the game and get the last out in the sixth.

The Rafters offense was shut down by the Growlers bullpen as after seven innings of work from
starter Kyle O’Hearn the Growlers would get one scoreless inning each from Jerimiah Holder,
Preston Crosby and Peyton Williams who earned the save.

The final score was 6-3 as the Growlers picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th.
Wisconsin Rapids falls to 2-6 on the season and Kalamazoo improves 8-3, the fastest they have
ever reached eight wins in franchise history.

The Rafters continue their road trip tomorrow in the state of Michigan as they will head to Battle
Creek to take on the Battle Jacks. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 EST, 6:05 CST. Spencer Lanz
will make his second start of the season coming into the game with a 3.60 ERA.