Clips Swept by Mariners after Sweeping Sluggers
CELINA, OH – The Clippers traveled south for their second series against the Mariners. Muskegon played well defensively and had no problem getting guys on base. However, they weren’t able to drive many of them in to score, and walks from the pitching staff allowed the Mariners to sweep the Clips in the three-game series.
SATURDAY (GM 1)
The Clippers rode the struggle bus in game one of the doubleheader on Saturday, losing 12-4. They were able to score the game's first run when Ben Meyers shot a double into right-center to bring in Taylor Head.
Drew Diehl began the game on the mound for Muskegon and was able to get through the first two innings with minimal damage. It was the third inning that tilted the game in the Mariners' favor when they put a nine-spot on the scoreboard.
The remainder of the game was pretty clean from both squads as they each tacked on one run in the fourth, but that was all.
Trailing 12-4, Muskegon turned to Jack Perry, who threw three scoreless innings to help preserve the pitching staff for the rest of the series.
Kaden Howard went 2-for-4 with two RBIs but was really the Clippers' only bright spot in the lineup during the first game of the series.
Muskegon walked 13 hitters in game one, which was the difference-maker as the Mariners were able to capitalize on the free baserunners.
SATURDAY (GM 2)
The nightcap was more competitive for Muskegon as they led for most of the game. It was a late seventh-inning rally that put two runs on the board for Grand Lake, and Muskegon couldn’t recover, dropping game two 4-2.
Ty Randall had his best start of the season, tossing six innings, allowing just two runs, and striking out five.
Howard came through again and drove in the game’s first run in the second, but Grand Lake matched it in the fourth.
The Clippers then took the lead in the sixth when Ben Meyers scored on a wild pitch.
With two outs and a man on third, Solomon Harwood of Grand Lake singled to tie it back up in the sixth.
The following inning, Maalik Perkins tripled and drove in two runs to give the Mariners a 4-2 lead.
Muskegon struggled in both games with runners in scoring position. Game two saw the Clippers strand the bases loaded, along with other two-out scenarios that could have flipped the script.
SUNDAY
Game three was back and forth the whole way and was the best overall game for Muskegon of the series; however, they still lost 4-2. The Clips used five pitchers, beginning with Andrew Pohlman. Pohlman went two innings, allowing no hits and no runs.
Zane Gregg, Chase Schwierking, AJ Park, and Michael Sime followed on the mound, and they each had a solid day. Gregg allowed three runs, and Park allowed one.
The first three innings were scoreless for both clubs, but Muskegon was able to strike first with a two-run fourth inning. Dalton Dick drove in both runs with a single to right-center. However, Grand Lake didn’t flinch. The Mariners proceeded to score three times in the bottom half to take the lead.
The Clippers' offense went stale the rest of the way and finished with just five hits. Grand Lake added an insurance run in the seventh to make it 4-2.
The bottom of the Clippers' lineup struggled on Sunday, going 0-for-11. Again, they buckled down defensively, and the pitching staff, all in all, did its job in game three.
Luckily for Muskegon, the Flag City Sluggers were also swept in their three-game series against the Hamilton Joes, so the Clips still trail by just one game for the second playoff spot in the North Division.
Muskegon will be back home Tuesday for a three-game set against the Copperheads.