Beavers Break Through Late to Defeat Diamond Hoppers, 5–1
UTICA, Mich. – The Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers (16-11) erupted for five runs in the top of the sixth inning to pull away from the Eastside Diamond Hoppers (8-20) and earn a 5–1 victory in Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader at UWM Field.
For five innings, the game was a pitcher’s duel between Birmingham’s Jack Decker and Eastside starter Dante Zamudio. Zamudio kept the Beavers off the scoreboard through five innings, allowing just four hits while striking out one, but Birmingham capitalized after the pitching change in the sixth.
The Beavers’ rally began with a solo home run from Matt Piotrowski, his second of the season, before Birmingham continued to string together quality at-bats. Amari Bartee ripped a two-out double, Derek Gellos delivered a two-run double, and Jeffrey Reseigh added a two-run single to cap off the five-run frame.
Eastside’s lone run came in the bottom of the sixth when Justin Johnson doubled and drove in David Kedrow, breaking up the shutout. Johnson finished 2-for-3 with the Diamond Hoppers’ only RBI, while Kedrow and Logan Malott each added a hit.
Bartee led Birmingham offensively with a 2-for-3 performance, while Piotrowski, Gellos, and Reseigh each drove in multiple runs during the decisive sixth inning.
On the mound, Decker earned the complete-game victory, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out five over six innings. Zamudio was tagged with a no-decision after his strong five-inning start, while Jude Baxt took the loss after surrendering all five runs in relief.
The Beavers finished with eight hits compared to Eastside’s five as Birmingham claimed Game 1 of the doubleheader, 5–1.