Beavers Defeat Hoppers, 9-4
July 27th, 2024
UTICA, Mich. – The Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers (9-19) totaled 14 hits in a dominant 9-4 victory over the Eastside Diamond Hoppers (15-12) on Friday night at Jimmy John’s Field.
Greg Loukinen earned the win in a dominant performance on the mound, pitching 6.0 innings, allowing two hits, and totaling 11 strikeouts.
Ranko Stevanovic also had an impressive day, hitting 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, and four RBIs. In the top of the second, Pablo Ruiz hit an RBI on a single, allowing Ray Hilbrich to score a run and give the Beavers the early lead.
Eastside would strike back, however. Bailey Martin and Noah Marcoux hit solo home runs, their 2nd and 6th of the season, to give the Hoppers a 2-1 lead.
The Beavers would continue their offense into the third, beginning with singles from Blake Bean and Matt Piotrowski. Bean and Piotrowski would also both earn steals, with Bean stealing home and Piotrowski stealing second. Stevanovic would cap off the inning with a two-run double.
Christian Ortega walked into loaded bases in the fifth, which scored Joe Burke. Stevanovic singled and earn two RBIs, followed by an RBI single from Ben Wilcoxson to continue to extend the Beavers lead 8-2.
Bryant Shellenbarger shrunk the hole the Hoppers were in slightly in the 8th, earning two RBIs on a single.