Late Rally Falls Short as Sluggers Drop 9-8 Decision to Clippers
MUSKEGON, MI — The Flag City Sluggers mounted a furious late-inning rally but ultimately fell just short on Thursday night, dropping a 9-8 decision to the Muskegon Clippers at Marsh Field.
The loss caps off a tough road sweep at the hands of the Clippers (13-11) and drops the Sluggers' overall record to 14-10.
The Sluggers got on the board first in the top of the second inning when Brandon North and Gino Williams crossed the plate to establish a 2-0 lead. However, defensive miscues quickly became the story of the night for Flag City. The Sluggers committed an uncharacteristic six errors in the contest, allowing Muskegon to counter with one run in the second, four in the third, and two in the fourth to storm out to a 7-4 advantage against starter Keagan Baugh (1-1).
Muskegon added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth off the bullpen to stretch the lead to 9-4, anchored by a huge night from the Clippers' Dalton Dick, who went 3-for-5 with four RBIs.
Refusing to go quietly, the Sluggers' offense fought back to life in the late frames. In the top of the eighth, Flag City loaded the bases and capitalized on a clutch, two-out, two-run single by Brett Reed, followed immediately by a two-run single from Drew Tajblik to slash the deficit to 9-7.
In the top of the ninth, the drama reached a fever pitch. Brandon North singled and eventually came around to score on a balk to pull the Sluggers within one at 9-8. Flag City managed to put the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on second, but Muskegon reliever Zander Wills managed to rack up a game-ending strikeout to escape the jam and leave the Sluggers just ninety feet short of extending the game.
Key Stats
Flag City Sluggers
Trenten Smith (2B): 3-for-5
Brett Reed (SS): 1-for-5, 2 RBI, R
Drew Tajblik (CF): 1-for-5, 2 RBI
Brandon North (C): 2-for-4, BB, 2 R
Gino Williams (1B): 2-for-5, 2 R
Collin Roelofs (Relief): 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB
Muskegon Clippers
Dalton Dick (RF): 3-for-5, 2B, 4 RBI, R
Justin St. Antoine (3B): 2-for-5, 3B, 2 R
Isaiah Domey (1B): 2-for-4, BB, 2 R
Maddux Kipling (P): 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO (Win)
