Picture credit to Carson Caprella

SPRING ARBOR, Michigan - The Michigan Monarchs erase a five-run deficit coming-from-behind beating the Muskegon Clippers 8-7. The Monarchs are now one win away from making its first GLSCL championship appearance since 1999.

The Clippers led by scores of 6-1 and 7-2 but could not hang on in the end. Muskegon struggled in the field specifically as part of its undoing in this game.

The Monarchs shaved Muskegon’s lead to 705 in the fifth inning. Michigan scored three times on a three-run error committed by Clippers third baseman Austin Cicerone.

Derek Ruiz (Lander University) lead off the seventh inning reaching on an error. Michigan tied the score 7-7 on a two-run homer by Kooper Etheridge (Kellogg CC). 

Tanner Mally (Western Michigan) followed with a ground rule double. Mally advanced to third base win a wild pitch and scored the go ahead run on an RBI-ground out by Ty Garza (Wayne State University).

Monarchs reliever Jack Topolski (Eastern Michigan) pitched the final four and 2/3 innings earning the victory. Topolski held the Clippers scoreless scattering three hits while striking out seven batters in the process.

Mally continued his not hitting of late at the plate going 2-for-4 with a double and three runs scored. Garza also provided two hits and two RBIs for the Monarchs.

Muskegon scored two runs in each of the first three innings. However, the Clippers were haunted by three costly errors in the field. Half of Michigan eight runs scored were of the unearned variety.

Justin Johnson (Eastern Michigan) was the top run producer going 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Sam Clay (Davenport University) contributed two doubles and Ethan Baird chipped in with two hits.

The series shifts to Muskegon on Saturday with the home team’s backs agains the wall. The Clippers need a win to extend the series to a third and decisive game. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm at Marsh Field. 

ABOUT THE GREAT LAKES SUMMER COLLEGIATE LEAGUE 

The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate, founded in 1987, is a wood-bat league that is certified by the NCAA and is partially funded by Major League Baseball. The GLSCL is a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity that is one of 12 members of the National Alliance of Collegiate Summer Baseball (NACSB). The league currently consists of 7 active franchises in Ohio and Michigan boasting several players that have earned service time in major league baseball.