Explosive Inning Leads to Growlers Win
Published on July 23, 2026 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Kalamazoo Growlers News Release
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Kalamazoo Growlers (29-27, 8-12) rode a strong start and big offensive inning to an 8-5 win over the Rockford Rivets (22-30, 9-7) Thursday night.
Rockford scored first, tagging two unearned runs on Kalamazoo starter Christian Forniss in the second inning. From there, Brady Louck and Forniss settled in, until the sixth inning.
Forniss had his final inning tarnished with two runs, watching the Growlers go down 4-0. Then, the offense exploded.
Kalamazoo found eight runs on six hits and a Logan Tribble home run, facing three pitchers while taking an 8-4 lead.
"We have a great group of guys who can all swing it very well," Forniss said. "You just have to believe in the guys and trust that they'll end up scoring."
Andrew Lehto threw two innings of relief, allowing one run, before Gavin Jones earned the save, retiring the Rivets in order in the ninth inning.
Forniss was valiant in his first start of the season, throwing six innings while striking out five and earning the win.
"I thought all week [Christian] had a little bit of a different swagger to him," manager Cody Piechocki said. "For him to go out and get six innings today was really big, he picked up his team."
Kalamazoo is back on the road Friday night against the Kenosha Kingfish, with first pitch scheduled for 7:35 p.m. EDT.
Northwoods League Stories from July 23, 2026
- Explosive Inning Leads to Growlers Win - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Woodchucks Pull out Game Two Win, Split Nine-Inning Doubleheader with Rockers - Wausau Woodchucks
- Dock Spiders Split Doubleheader against the Chinooks - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Green Bay Splits Doubleheader in Wausau - Green Bay Rockers
- Martinez Delivers in Ninth, Pit Spitters Take Series in Battle Creek - Traverse City Pit Spitters
- Rivets Let up Big Sixth Inning in Loss - Rockford Rivets
- Habaneros Split Double Dip - Mankato MoonDogs
- Lakeshore Chinooks and Fond du Lac Dock Spiders Game Two Preview 7/23 - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Loggers Cruise Past Honkers in Game One of Doubleheader - Rochester Honkers
- Woodchucks Fall in First Game of Nine Inning Doubleheader to Green Bay - Wausau Woodchucks
- More Than a Place to Stay: How the Wald Family Found a Bigger Family Through Hosting - Bismarck Larks
- Flying Mummies Look to End Series on Winning Note in Final Game against Leprechauns - Richmond Flying Mummies
- Bucks to Hold Baseball Camp on August 1 Presented by Peoples Community Health Clinic - Waterloo Bucks
- Lakeshore Chinooks and Fond du Lac Dock Spiders Game One Preview 7/23 - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Rockers and Woodchucks Set to Play Two - Green Bay Rockers
- Leprechauns Sweep Twinbill with Pair of Late Comebacks against Flying Mummies - Richmond Flying Mummies
- Duluth Loses Back and Forth Affair, Suffers Sixth Straight Defeat - Duluth Huskies
- Big Sticks Win Nailbiter in Extra Innings against Willmar - Badlands Big Sticks
- Stingers Lose Series Finale in Extra Innings - Willmar Stingers
- Woodchucks Take Top Spot in Division After Wild Win over Duluth - Wausau Woodchucks
- MoonDogs Win Big in Final Score of 22-10 - Mankato MoonDogs
- Dock Spiders Split Doubleheader against the Rafters - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Thunder Bay Completes Sweep with 6-3 Win over Rochester - Rochester Honkers
- Rox Roll 7-2 over Loggers, Host Doubleheader Thursday - St. Cloud Rox
- Brewer Blast, Bullpen Push 'Fish to Sweep over Green Bay - Kenosha Kingfish
- Green Bay Falls to Kingfish in Second Straight Loss - Green Bay Rockers
- Chinooks' Offense Struggle in Loss to Madison - Lakeshore Chinooks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
