By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON – Offense has been a strength for the Muskegon Clippers this season, and it provided them with a much-needed win on Tuesday.

The Clippers pounded out 15 hits to beat the Grand River Loggers 12-6 at Marsh Field to snap their three-game losing streak.

“That was a great win,” said Clippers Manager Walt Gawkowski. “We needed that win badly. We pitched well tonight. and it was nice to get out in front early.”

The Clippers jumped out to a 9-0 lead, saw their advantage slip to three runs, then secured the win by scoring the last three runs.

The Clippers improved to 8-10 on the season, good for third place in the Great Lakes Collegiate Summer Baseball League’s Northern Division.

They are four games behind the first place St. Clair Green Giants, who they will play on Wednesday and Thursday on the road.

Muskegon jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single from Brian Sobieski.  Peter Zimmermann increased the lead to 2-0 in the third inning with an RBI single.

The Clippers broke the game open in the fourth frame, scoring five runs on three hits.

The big blow of the frame was a grand slam home run by Zimmermann, which gave the Clippers a 7-0 advantage. Cameron Bair also forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk prior to the homer.

Muskegon added a pair of runs in the fifth inning to increase its advantage to 9-0 on a sacrifice fly by Ethan Hajdukovic and another bases-loaded walk by Bair.

The Loggers stormed back, scoring three runs in both the fifth and sixths innings. Chad Wagner launched a two-run homer for Grand River and Bailey Peterson added a solo shot.

The Clippers ended Grand River’s run in the eighth inning, scoring two runs on three hits.

Wyatt Featherston knocked in a pair of runs with an RBI single to give Muskegon an 11-6 lead. The Clippers closed out the scoring in the ninth with an RBI single from Nolan Bryant.

Bryce Kelley and Zimmermann paced Muskegon with three hits apiece, while Featherston, Jimmy Roche and Luke LaLumia each added two.

Muskegon’s starting pitcher, Cameron Miller, picked up the win, allowing six runs on eight hits in five innings.

Zach Taglieri tossed four scoreless innings in relief to pick up the save.