LocalSportsJournal.com
SANDUSKY – Getting the bats going was a struggle for the Muskegon Clippers when they hit the road Tuesday to face the Sandusky Ice Haulers, resulting in a 7-0 loss – their first of the year.
It was a war of attrition to start the night, with neither team able to record a hit in the first two innings. The Clippers broke that streak in the top of the third when Nicholas Hawkins managed a leadoff single.
The Ice Haulers answered back in the bottom of the fourth as they took advantage of a few mistakes by the Clippers. A single and a walk put two on base for Sandusky before another single scored the first run of the game. One more crossed home plate on a passed ball and put the Ice Haulers up 2-0.
That effort sparked something for Sandusky as they pieced together three more runs on four hits between the fifth and sixth innings. With only a single from Aaron Piasecki as an answer for Muskegon, the Clippers fell to a 5-0 hole to start the seventh.
Continuing the drought, Muskegon found their third and final hit of the game in the top of the eighth on a single from Stoney Smith. Sandusky was quick to answer with three more hits and two runs to cap the evening’s scoring.
DJ Thompson suffered the loss for the Clippers as he pitched into the fifth inning. He allowed four runs on six hits, while walking five and striking out one.
Piasecki, Smith and Hawkins were all responsible for the one single each.
The Clippers fell to 8-1 with the loss, ending a streak of eight straight wins to start the year. They still remain ahead in the North Division with Sandusky (8-2).
The teams will be back in action at 7:05 Wednesday in the second of a three-game series.
