LocalSportsJournal.com

The Muskegon Clippers needed an answer to stop their current slide and on Thursday it was Max Ludka that helped provide the team out of the three-game losing streak.

Ludka struck out a season-high 12 batters in seven innings of work to help propel Muskegon over the Hamilton Joes 8-3 from Foundation Field in Hamilton, Ohio.

The Clippers are now 14-15 on the season, good for sixth place in the Great Lakes Collegiate Summer Baseball League’s Northern Division. Muskegon is currently two and a half games behind Saginaw for the final spot in the playoff race.

Muskegon now has 13 games remaining on the schedule, nine of which will be held at Marsh Field.

The Clippers will end their road trip on Friday night with a rematch against the Joes. They will then head home for an eight-game home stand starting on Saturday against the Licking County Settlers.

Ludka, who now leads the GLCSBL with 49 strikeouts on the season, was spectacular for Muskegon, allowing just one run on four hits to earn the victory.

Bryce Davis and Blake Dunn each tossed one inning of relief for the Clippers.

The Clippers jumped out to an 8-0 lead early on with five runs in the first inning, one in the third and two in the fourth frame.

Hamilton responded with a run in the bottom half of the fourth to cut the deficit to 8-1 before closing the scoring with two runs in the eighth inning.

Muskegon was led offensively by Micah Allen with three hits, including a double and home run, along with four RBIs.

Dunn and Jimmy Roche each added two hits for the Clippers, while Allen, Roche and Dunn each scored two runs.