Northwoods Green Bay Rockers

Bullfrogs Use Huge Eighth Inning to Beat Growlers in Wild Comeback Win

Published on July 7, 2018 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Green Bay Rockers News Release


Green Bay, WI. - In a 5-5 ballgame, the host Green Bay Bullfrogs (13-27) tallied four runs on two hits in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the lead and secure an exciting 9-6 comeback victory over the visiting Kalamazoo Growlers (25-14) at Joannes Stadium Saturday evening. The Bullfrogs snap their eight-game losing streak and get their first win over Kalamazoo this season to split the two-game series.

Kalamazoo jumped ahead early with a three-spot in the second inning, scoring the first two runs on a wild pitch followed by a RBI single from George Mendazona to put the Growlers in front 3-0. Green Bay answered with a RBI base-knock by Luke Robinson (Sophomore, Western Carolina) to cut the deficit down to 3-1 in the third inning.

The Bullfrogs would continue to rally in the fourth frame, starting with a RBI single by Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo (Freshman, Navarro College) followed with Alejandro Gonzalez (Freshman, Hillsborough CC) scoring on a wild pitch to even the score at 3-3.

Kalamazoo's Baron Radcliff laced a run-scoring single in the top of the sixth inning to put the Growlers back ahead 4-3. In the bottom half, the Bullfrogs tied the contest again with Gonzalez scoring on a balk to make it a 4-4 game. Blake Nelson (Junior, Univ. of Michigan) then tallied a go-ahead sacrifice fly to right field, giving Green Bay their first lead of the game at 5-4.

In the eighth inning, Radcliff came through again for Kalamazoo with his second RBI single of the game to knot the score back up at 5-5. However, Green Bay stormed back with a crucial four-run frame to give the Bullfrogs a commanding 9-5 advantage.

The Green Bay scoring surge commenced with the game-winning RBI single from Matthew Acosta (Sophomore, USC) to push the Bullfrogs ahead 6-5. Nelson then smacked a RBI base-hit of his own to extend the lead out to 7-5. Preston Pavlica (Junior, Grand Canyon Univ.) then scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-5 before a RBI fielder's choice by Cooper Morrison (Sophomore, UC Davis) stretched the margin out to 9-5. Kalamazoo got a two-out solo home run from Sam Crail in the ninth inning, but it would not be enough as Green Bay secured the three-run triumph.

Acosta extended his current hit streak out to six games, finishing 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a RBI to lead the Green Bay offense. Nelson went 1-for-3 with a team-high two RBIs, while Pavlica and Alejandro Gonzalez each were 1-for-2 with two runs scored.

Green Bay relief pitcher Eli Baez (Sophomore, St. Bonaventure) earned the win, improving to 1-1. Kalamazoo reliever Bryce Welborn took the loss, falling to 0-1.

The Green Bay Bullfrogs remain at home tomorrow afternoon for a Sunday showdown, hosting the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders for the opener of a two-game series. First pitch is slated for a 1:05 p.m. start within the friendly confines of Joannes Stadium.

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