Clippers Fall on Friday Night to Flag City

Jonathan Timm

Muskegon, MI: A troublesome day at the plate delivered the Muskegon Clippers (1-6) a 4-0 loss to the Flag City Sluggers (1-6) on Friday, June 13th at Historic Marsh Field. 

The Sluggers, new to the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, got the first franchise win in their inaugural season. 

Base hits were spread out and scarce for the Clippers, ending the night with five total to the Slugger six. Additionally, two double plays from the Sluggers defense took away any hopes of an early Clipper rally.

Aidan Pearson had an impressive outing and kept it close through seven strong innings of work. Pearson allowed just one earned run, three hits, three walks and struck out five. A commanding day on the mound had 62 of Pearson’s 93 pitches being strikes. 

On the other side of the mound, Ty Hanly kept the Clippers calm and went five innings while allowing two hits, two walks and striking out four. 

The Sluggers got their first run off of a Clipper infield error in the second, and capitalized on an RBI groundout from Caleb Smith. 

Bases were left loaded for the Clippers in the sixth, continuing the struggles with runners on. In total the Clippers left eight runners on the base paths.

Upon Pearson leaving the game, the Sluggers rallied to tack on two more runs in the eighth, and would be the last form of offense in the game. 

Joseph Charpliwy had a multi-hit day with a pair of singles. Other hits came from Jack Bakus, Nolan Zajac and Luke Noack. 

The Clippers and Sluggers will meet for Game 2 of the series tomorrow at Marsh Field at 6:35, with the broadcast pregame show starting at 6:05.