Bombers Beat – End Skid, Putting Wins Together After Two Weeks

The Battle Creek Bombers started to struggle entering their second week but towards the end, the tide began to change.

The Bomb Squad entered the week on a two-game losing streak after being swept by the expansion Traverse City Pit Spitters. It would be a challenging week for the Bombers with two sets of home series with the other addition to the Northwoods League - the Kokomo Jackrabbits. Here's a look at how those games fared...

Monday, June 3^rd - Kokomo 7, (at) Battle Creek 6
The Bombers opened the week with a back-and-forth battle against the Jackrabbits, but it wasn't enough. John Malcom (Vanderbilt) and Jack Merrifield (LSU-Eunice) each drove in two runs on two hits each. Josh Hranicky (Lamar) allowed six runs in the first 2 1/3 innings, but the Bomb Squad couldn't mount a comeback.

Tuesday, June 4^th - Kokomo 2, (at) Battle Creek 1
It was a lower scoring affair but the same result as both bullpens were solid to the end. There was no scoring after the fourth inning for either club. Merrifield drove in the lone run on a sacrifice fly, as Malcom and Kelby Weyler (Lamar) each had two hits in the loss. Dillon Champagne (Schoolcraft College) allowed both Jackrabbit runs in four innings to suffer the loss on the mound.

Wednesday, June 5^th - (at) Kalamazoo 6, Battle Creek 4
The losing streak stretched to five games after the Bombers first meeting with the Growlers this season. The game was tied 4-4 in the seventh when two wild pitches brought in the winning runs for Kzoo. Matthew Patton (Central Arkansas), one of the Bomber pitchers, was in the starting lineup at first base and his double brought in two runs to get Battle Creek going. Hunter Ruhstorfer (Davenport) also knocked in a run. Kolby Johnson (Central Arkansas) had two hits. Mitchell Lee (Lamar) took the loss, allowing the two runs on wild pitches.

Thursday, June 6^th - (at) Battle Creek 4, Kalamazoo 3
The streak came to an end at C.O. Brown Stadium as the Bombers held off a late Growlers surge. Patton knocked in another run on the night with Roy Thurman (Akron) and Rhett McCall (Lamar) also driving in a run each. Weyler had three hits. Pablo Arevalo (Barry College) tossed three scoreless innings of relief to earn the win, with another 1 1/3 from Burrell Jones (Wabash Valley College) to close the game out.

Friday, June 7^th - Kokomo 7, (at) Battle Creek 4
The Jackrabbits made their return trip to the Cereal City and were quick out of the box, laying four runs in the third inning to take a commanding lead. Weyler had two more hits and knocked in two runs from the lead-off spot. Michael Morrisette (Miami OH) also helped push across a run. Calvin Starnes (Northwest Florida State) allowed four runs in his 2 2/3 inning start to take the loss.

Saturday, June 8^th - (at) Battle Creek 8, Kokomo 3
The Bombers finally earned a win over the expansion Jackrabbits with four runs in the first three innings and a four-spot in the eighth to add some cushion. The win was all on just six Bomber hits. Johnson drove in two runs and a solo shot came from Josh Sears (Freed Hardeman). Ty Shoaff (Notre Dame College) allowed all three runs in five innings of work, striking out eight for the win.

Sunday, June 9^th - Battle Creek 9, (at) Kenosha 2
In the longest road trip (by distance) so far this season, the Bombers continued to score runs in bunches. All nine runs came between the fifth and seventh innings to win their third game in the last four. Johnson had three more hits and drove in three more runs for the Bombers. Merrifield also had two RBI, including a solo homer in the fifth. Hranicky struck out six, allowing two runs on three hits in six innings to get the win for the Bomb Squad.

With a 3-4 week behind them, here's how the Bombers are fairing in the newly-minted Great Lakes Conference East Division...

Notes
- Kelby Weyler is tied for sixth in the Northwoods League in runs scored with 14. He is also fifth in the league in walks with 14 and eighth in on-base percentage at .492.

- John Malcom is tied for eighth in the league with 11 RBI.

- One of the Bombers relievers, Ping-Chun Ho (Barry College) is tied eighth in the NL in earned run average. In six appearances, he holds a 1.46 ERA.

- A statistic that is better for hitters and not for pitchers, Josh Hranicky is tied for sixth in the league with allowing the most walks with 12.

- The Bombers as a team is the league's worst in hitting at .199. Pitching has been solid with a 3.81 ERA, good for seventh out of 20 teams.

The Upcoming Week - Home games in Bold
Monday, June 10^th - Bombers at Kenosha - 7:35pm
Tuesday, June 11^th - Bombers vs. Kalamazoo - 7:05pm
Wednesday, June 12^th - Bombers vs. Kalamazoo (Doubleheader) - 1:05pm & 7:05pm
Thursday, June 13^th - Bombers at Kalamazoo - 7:05pm
Friday, June 14^th - Bombers vs. Rockford - 7:05pm
Saturday, June 15^th - Bombers vs. Rockford - 7:05pm (Ballpark Food Drive, Bark in the Park, Faith Night, Zeke the Wonder Dog)
Sunday, June 16^th - Bombers vs. Kenosha - 1:05pm (Father's Day Ticket Package)