By Eli Halverson | June 25, 2025

Following a solid 5-2 victory over the Clippers last night, the Joes looked to keep the momentum moving in the right direction with a doubleheader on Wednesday evening.

Game One

As has become standard, the Joes got things started in the first. Jackson Wang doubled in his first at-bat—beginning what would be a very strong day at the plate—and was driven home by a Jaxson Christ RBI single.

From there, it turned into a bit of a pitcher’s duel. The Clippers responded with a run of their own, and heading into the fifth, the game was tied 1–1. However, Hamilton would take the lead right back, with Wang delivering once again—this time with his second double of the night, driving in two more runs to give the Joes a 3–1 lead. Wang finished the day 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs, adding to his already impressive season stat line (.340 AVG, 4 2B, HR, 12 RBI).

Unfortunately for Hamilton, the bullpen wasn’t able to close the door. Starter Jordan Taylor absolutely delivered; he’s quietly becoming one of the Joes’ key arms and turned in a strong outing: 5 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts.

But after a Clippers RBI single cut the lead to one in the sixth, the game quickly flipped. Up to that point, the Joes had either been tied or in front all game. Then, one walk and one big swing changed everything, as Braden Graves launched a clutch go-ahead two-run homer to give Muskegon a 4–3 lead. After a quick pitching change, Casey Barnes followed it up with another two-run homer, extending the lead to 6–3—where it would ultimately finish.

Game Two

After dropping game one late, game two almost felt like a must-win for the Joes—and they had the right guy on the mound for a game like that. Dale Ellis has been a steady arm all season, and he delivered once again. Ellis threw 5 innings, giving up two unearned runs while striking out four. However, the Joes didn’t do much to help him offensively.

The game was scoreless through the first three innings until Miguel Correa made his mark. Correa launched a two-run bomb in the fourth to give Hamilton a 2–0 lead. He is scorching hot right now, having hit safely in 11 straight games and homering twice in the last four days. He finished the day 1-for-3 with those two RBIs.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Clippers clawed back. After an error and a pair of singles, Muskegon scored both their runs on wild pitches with two outs—an absolute backbreaker for Hamilton. The finishing blow came in the bottom of the seventh when the Clippers loaded the bases on three straight walks. Connor Kelly then ripped the game-winning, walk-off single to secure a 3–2 win.

Despite the sweep, there were still some bright spots. Christopher Roa Calcano is starting to really heat up after a slow start, going a combined 4-for-6 on the day and now hitting a ridiculous .458 over his last eight games. As mentioned, Dale Ellis and Miguel Correa continued to do what they do best—pitch and hit at an elite level.

To be blunt, it couldn’t have been a worse outcome for the Joes in the doubleheader. Losing both games late, in heartbreaking fashion, will be a serious test of their resilience as we near the midpoint of the season. And it doesn’t get any easier—the Joes face arguably their biggest series of the year this weekend against the first-place, division-rival Xenia Scouts. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 7:05 PM on Friday night at Foundation Field.