Muskegon Clippers rack up 20 runs in a wild victory over Monarchs at Marsh Field

LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON — The pitching from both sides got roughed up on Friday night at Marsh Field.

In the end, the Muskegon Clippers prevailed 20-10 over the visiting Michigan Monarchs in a game that ended after eight innings due to the 10-run rule. The victory moved the Clippers’ record to 11-1 on the season.

Mona Shores graduate Jaxon Huffman got the start on the mound for the Clippers and allowed four runs in four innings of work. He walked four and struck out five.

The Monarchs took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the undeterred Clipper offense went on a rampage starting in the second inning. The Clippers scored four runs in the second, five in the third, five in the fifth and two more in the sixth. At that point, Muskegon led 17-10.

Photo/Leo Valdez

Sheenan O’Connor belted a home run to start the Clipper scoring in the second inning. Aaron Piasecki added an RBI double and Donovan Rinhart added an RBI single in the inning.

In the third, Nicolas Hawkins singled in a run and Rinehart plated a run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Colin Cornwell had the big hit of the inning, a three-run double.

In the fifth, Jabin Bates singled in a run then Hawkins knocked in two with a double. Stoney Smith added a two-run single to cap the inning’s scoring.

Cornwell added an RBI single in the sixth for the Clipper’s 16th run.

Cornwell added a run-scoring single in the seventh that built the lead to 17-10.

Photo/Leo Valdez

In the bottom of the eighth, the Clippers scored three runs on a double by Piasecki, a bases loaded walk to Caleb Sanders and ended the game on Jordan Bates’ RBI single.

After Huffman exited, Gavin Sitarz entered and allowed six runs, five earned, in two innings of work. Ben Alderson pitched two scoreless inning.

The Monarchs’ starter, Silas Butler allowed four runs in two innings on the mound. Nathan Riffe followed and gave up five runs in two innings and Sam Baker gave up five runs in one inning. From there, the Clippers were in control.

Cornwell and Bates each had four hits. Cornwell drove in four runs and Bates plated two. Piasecki finished with three hits and two RBI. Hawkins and Rinehart had two hits each with Hawkins driving in three and Rinehart two. Smith and O’Connor each had two RBI.

The teams will take the field again at 7:05 Saturday night at Marsh Field.