LocalSportsJournal.com
The Muskegon Clippers opened their season with a 20-6 victory over the Shoreline Salmon on Tuesday at Muskegon Community College.
The Clippers, defending champions of the Michigan Summer Collegiate Baseball League, pounded out 18 hits and batted around in two different innings.
Muskegon is scheduled to play its home opener at Marsh Field on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the River City Rapids.
The Salmon jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the first inning on a bases-loaded walk and two hit batters that forced in runs.
The Clippers responded with three runs in the second inning to tie the game before Shoreline added a run in the bottom of the second to take a 4-3 lead.
Muskegon scored nine unanswered runs with one in the fourth inning, five in the sixth and three in the seventh to take 12-4 lead.
The Salmon scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to cut their deficit to 12-5.
The Clippers scored eight runs in the top of the ninth before Shoreline ended the scoring with a run in its final inning.
Muskegon was led by Connor Seymour with four hits, three RBIs and two runs scored.
The Clippers’ Jared Burton added three hits and three RBIs while Ryan Mergener chipped in with three hits, including a triple, and two RBIs.
Muskegon’s starting pitcher Nick Holt tossed the win, allowing four runs on four hits while striking out three batters in six innings.
Brandon Melchert pitched three innings in relief for the Clippers, allowing two runs on five hits.
