LocalSportsJournal.com

The West Michigan Whitecaps responded from a 7-2 deficit on Thursday night to come back and defeat Fort Wayne 9-7.

West Michigan surrendered seven runs in the third inning and found themselves down 7-2 after three completed innings.

However, the Whitecaps responded scoring one run in the fourth, four runs in the fifth and two runs in the sixth while surrendering no runs.

Anthony Pereira led West Michigan with three runs batted in, including a two run home run in the sixth inning. Cole Bauml, Isaac parede and Chad Sedio each led West Michigan with two hits while Paredes and Dylan Burdeaux added two RBIs.

Reliever Trent Szkutnik picked up his sixth win of the year, tossing four innings while allowing one hit and striking out two. John Schreiber added his seventh save of the season, pitching a clean tow innings while striking out three.

West Michigan is now 73-32 overall on the year and 28-10 in the second half, four games ahead of Fort Wayne for first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division second half standings.

The Whitecaps will continue their series in Fort Wayne on Friday with first pitch at 7:05 p.m.