Clippers Can’t Find Big Swing on Saturday

Jonathan Timm

Celina, OH: The Saturday struggles continue for the Muskegon Clippers (8-12) as they fell 5-2 to the Grand Lake Mariners (7-12) on Saturday at Montgomery Field. 

Despite leaving 17 runners on base when all was said and done, the Clippers had one last hope after Davis Weeks hit a two-out RBI single in the ninth. Taylor Head got to bat with the potential game tying run with runners at the corners. Mariner closing pitcher Ty Kiehl was able to stand the traffic with a game-ending strikeout.

Two batters into the game, Jack Bakus brought Head home on an RBI-double to give the Clippers an early 1-0 lead. Both Bakus and Head ended the day with two hits each.

The Mariners erased that one run stint in the bottom of the second with an RBI-fielders choice from Sam Reczek tied up everything at one a piece.

Aidan Pearson got the start on the mound for the Clippers and went six innings strong, striking out a pair while allowing four hits, three earned runs and as many walks. 

The big difference maker inning was a four run showing from the Mariners in the bottom of the 7th. Ty O’Brien hit a two-RBI single to make it a two run lead. Later in the inning, Jake Lopez drove in a run with a single, and the night cap for Grand Lake was an RBI-sack fly from Salvatore Besztery. 

Chase Schwierking was the first line of relief for Pearson, and recorded two outs in the bottom of the 7th. Max Salas would finish the job with a strikeout in his lone batter faced. 

Getting the nod for the bottom of the 8th was Winston Delp who struck out one in his one inning stint. 

Brady Richman after his Friday night struggles on the mound was the winning pitcher for Grand Lake. 

Only three of the five Mariner runs were earned, due to three errors from the Clipper defense. 

The Clips will look to take the series in the finale on Sunday, with first pitch at 4:05.