BATTLE CREEK — The Traverse City Pit Spitters fell out of first place with a 5-3 loss to Battle Creek.
Traverse City collected only five hits in Tuesday’s Northwoods League baseball game in front of 707 fans at MCCU Field in Battle Creek.
Traverse City (10-6) trailed Royal Oak (11-6) by a half game in the Great Lakes East after Tuesday’s results. The Leprechauns, who have won eight of their last 10, routed Richmond 23-6.
Sean Martinez had two of TC’s five hits and is hitting .367 after 13 games in a Spitters uniform. Zach Kucharczyk, Ethan Guerra and Cade Collins each produced a hit, with Guerra driving in two runs to pull him into third in the league in RBI with 46.
Four of Traverse City’s five hits came in the three-run fifth inning.
Battle Jacks starter Brayden Groseclose gave up five hits in seven inning with three strikeouts and relievers Sam Bespoyasny and Connor Lovin each pitches one hitless frame.
Jake Ickes was charged with three earned runs in six innings, striking out two. All three runs charged to Ickes came with two outs.
Cody Freitas worked the seventh, giving up one run and striking out one. Ty Jenkins tossed a scoreless eighth.
Battle Creek players Brendan Thompson, Jake Stedman, Gehrig Goldbeck, Owen Larrigan and Noah Hogan each had two hits.
The series continues Wednesday with a day-night doubleheader of nine-inning games.