KOKOMO — All was well for the Traverse City Pit Spitters after they ventured south to Indiana to battle the Kokomo Jackrabbits on Friday.
An early offensive explosion carried the Pit Spitters (19-20) to a 9-4 victory as they fought off a late Jackrabbits (11-27) comeback attempt at Kokomo Municipal Stadium in Northwoods League action.
Brett Rozman scored on an RBI groundout from Aaron Piasecki to give the Pit Spitters a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
The offense got hot in the second as Traverse City plated five runs and would not be caught in a race to the finish.
Vahn Lackey and Carter Hain singled, and a wild pitch to Brandon Chang allowed Lackey to come home. Chang eventually walked, and Michael Tchavdarov singled on an 0-1 pitch to score Hain and make it 3-0.
After a Rozman flyout to center, Ethan Guerra singled to bring in Chang. Piasecki followed with a two-RBI base knock for the 6-0 lead.
Kokomo scored two in the bottom of the fourth on a JJ Dutton single and a Chandler Tuupo groundout, but the Pit Spitters got those runs back in the top of the seventh inning when Lackey launched a two-run home run to left after Daniel Jackson singled with two outs.
The Jackrabbits tried to make it a game when they loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth. But the Pit Spitters limited the damage to just two runs.
Traverse City added some insurance in the top of the ninth, loading the bases and getting a five-pitch walk from Lackey to force in a run. Lackey and Piasecki each finished with three RBI.
Jake Brown got the start and the win for the Pit Spitters, going seven strong innings and allowing two runs on five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. Zak Sullivan got the final four outs, not allowing a baserunner and striking out one.
The Pit Spitters get back in action Saturday when they finish off their two-game set with the Jackrabbits at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. Collin Bradley (1-0, 3.00 ERA) gets the starting nod with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.
Traverse City then heads to Mequon, Wisconsin, to take on the Lakeshore Chinooks at Kapco Park on Sunday and Monday.
Grant Garman (1-0, 4.05 ERA), the 18-year-old and recent baseball state champion from Flint Powers Catholic, gets the start on Sunday after throwing five scoreless innings and retiring the final 13 batters he faced in a relief appearance against Great Lakes East Division first-half champion Rockford on July 1. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.
The Pit Spitters finish off their road trip Monday as Seth Gurr (0-3, 4.74 ERA) will make the start against Lakeshore at 6:35 p.m. Traverse City returns home Tuesday to play four games in three days, including a Wednesday doubleheader, against Royal Oak.