Sluggers Outlast Monarchs in 10-Inning Thriller to Secure 4-3 Victory
BOWLING GREEN, OH — It took extra innings, but the Flag City Sluggers dug deep to secure a gritty 4-3 victory over the Michigan Monarchs on Sunday night at Mercer Road.
With the victory, the Sluggers push their season record to 14-7, continuing their strong summer campaign by showing off their clutch gene in late innings.
The game was an absolute chess match through the first few frames, but Flag City finally cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Seizing on a pair of defensive errors by Michigan, Jovanny Skrelja drove home Atticus Huffstutler to make it 1-0 before Braden Sprague laced an RBI single to extend the lead to 2-0.
Flag City starter Dominic Elia was spectacular, holding the Monarchs (5-14) in check by scattering six hits and striking out five over 6.1 brilliant innings. Michigan managed to chip away, scoring single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to knot the game at 2-2.
The Sluggers reclaimed the lead in the top of the eighth when Miles Mitchell dropped down a beautiful sacrifice fly to score Huffstutler again. However, the Monarchs answered in the bottom of the ninth, using a wild pitch to push across a run and drag the game into extra frames tied 3-3.
In the top of the tenth, Flag City manufactured the game-winner. Brett Reed drew a lead-off walk, moved up, and eventually crossed the plate to make it 4-3.
The drama wasn't over, but Braylon Sheefel slammed the door in the bottom half. Facing a furious Monarchs threat, Sheefel struck out two batters and worked around two hits to leave the tying and winning runs stranded, picking up his first save of the summer and sealing the win for Aidan Murphy (4-0).
Key Stats
Flag City Sluggers
Atticus Huffstutler (1B): 1-for-4, 2 R, BB
Braden Sprague (C): 2-for-5, RBI
Jovanny Skrelja (CF): 2-for-5, RBI, R
Dominic Elia (P): 6.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO
Aidan Murphy (P): 1.0 IP (Win)
Braylon Sheefel (P): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 SO (Save)
Michigan Monarchs
Ryan Metz (SS): 3-for-5, RBI, R, SB
Maddux Bach (LF): 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Dalton Vance (Relief): 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO
Hank Blackburn (P): 0.1 IP, 1 ER (Loss)
