Clippers Keep Playoff Hopes Alive in Win Over Mariners

Jonathan Timm

Muskegon, MI: The Muskegon Clippers (20-20) picked up a big time 6-3 win over the Grand Lake Mariners (11-29) on Thursday, July 24th at Historic Marsh Field.

A sweep will be the only way the Clippers have a chance to make the post-season for a third straight year.

Extra base hits provided all of the scoring in the contest, but none had the level of significance as Parker Vaughn’s go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the 7th to finalize the score. 

Vaughn, in just four games as a Clipper has seven RBIs and is hitting at a .455 rate since joining the team and finished going 2-3 with a walk and a pair of runs scored. 

The first homerun came on an opposite field two-run shot from the Mariners first baseman Chase Alwardt in the second inning to make it 2-0.

Clipper starting pitcher Ty Randall was able to hold the fort down in his start on the mound, allowing four hits, two earned runs, two walks and had two strikeouts in his four innings of work. Sam Pollock was the first to be deployed out of the bullpen and got three quick outs in the fifth. 

The first Clipper run came from Luke Noack, who excelled at the bottom of the order with a two-out RBI-double in the bottom of the second to make it 2-1 Grand Lake. 

After a pair of stalemate innings, the bottom of the fifth had some more two out rally calls for a double, this time from Cole LeClair, in which his two-bagger scored both Vaughn and Taylor Head to make it 3-2 Muskegon. 

Alex Hardacre entered the game in the sixth inning, and would go on to obtain his fifth win on the mound of the season. Despite allowing a lead-off home run to Sage Adams, which tied the game at 3-3, Hardacre finished strong and allowed four hits, the lone run, no walks and a strikeout.

Vaughn’s three-run homer set the table for Winston Delp to get his second save of the season. Delp would throw two innings and faced seven batters while allowing just one hit, no walks and a pair of strikeouts.

Other Clipper forms of hits were provided by Ben Meyers, Jackson Isaacs and Head. LeClair and Vaughn both had two hits. 

The win wasn’t enough to give the Clippers a chance going into the final two games. At Hillsdale College, the Lima Locos needed every bit of their 12-5 lead to eventually win a North Division nail-bitter with a final score of 12-11 over the Michigan Monarchs. 

The Clipper’s magic number is now at four, and the Monarch’s remain at one.

Friday’s game will be of equal importance, as the playoff hunt will continue for the Clippers in Game 2 vs. Grand Lake. First pitch will be at 6:35.