After a two hour and fifty three minute rain delay prior to first pitch, the Battle Creek Bombers shutout the Wisconsin Woodchucks, 3-0, Sunday night at C.O. Brown Stadium.
The Woodchucks (15-9, 33-25) got four hits from first baseman Brendon Hayden, but otherwise struggled offensively against Bombers’ starting right-hander Jordan Grosjean and relievers Hunter Jobe and Alden Cartwright.
Grosjean went five scoreless frames, surrendering just four hits in improving to 1-1 on the season, while Jobe threw three scoreless innings in relief and Cartwright a perfect ninth, for his second save of the year.
The Bombers (8-15, 24-34) offensively got a clutch two-out, two-run triple from right fielder Laz Rivera in the bottom of the fifth inning to jump-start the scoring. First baseman Matt Dacey’s two-out RBI-double in the sixth inning provided insurance, and that was more proved more than enough for the Bombers’ pitchers.
Wisconsin was led offensively by first baseman Brendon Hayden’s perfect four-for-four performance, but stranded eight on base in the loss. On the mound, the Chucks used three southpaws. Left hander Kaylor Chafin went the first inning, surrendering no runs on two hits, striking out one and walking one.
Lefties Jared Skolnicki and Sam Mahar provided relief for Chafin, as Skolnicki went four innings, surrendering two unearned runs on five hits, striking out six and walking two. Mahar gave up just one run on three hits in three innings of work.
The Woodchucks are back home at Athletic Park on Monday night, as they take on the Madison Mallards in the first of two. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M.
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The Wisconsin Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwood’s League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwood’s 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 115 Northwood’s League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwood’s League YouTube channel. For more information, visit woodchucks.com.
