LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON – They had to wait until the bottom of the ninth to get it done, but the Muskegon Clippers walked away with a 3-2 win over the Michigan Monarchs on Saturday.
Aaron Piasecki came through in the clutch for Muskegon, notching a walk-off two-run single to secure the Clippers’ seventh straight win.
Both teams went hitless in the first inning, resulting in a slow start to the night. The second inning saw the Monarchs lead off with a single before the Clippers answered with two hits of their own. Neither effort resulted in points, so the top of the third began with a 0-0 tie.
After the Monarchs batted in a runner with an extra base hit, the Clippers were able to find an answer in the bottom of the third. Luke Kerrins, Aidan Arbogast and Sheehan O’Connor all reached base on singles. Arbogast batted in Piasecki to knot it back up at 1-1 when the frame ended.
Things stayed that way until the top of the sixth when the Monarchs were able to score on a wild pitch. That put the Clippers behind 2-1 and in a spot of trouble as they failed to get the bats going again until the bottom of the ninth.
With only three outs to give and a new arm on the mound for the Monarchs, the Clippers remained patient. Colin Cornwell earned a walk and advanced to second after Brandon Scheurer was hit by a pitch. With the winning run on first and two outs, Piasecki came through with the game-winning single that scored both runners to earn the win.
Matthew Hoover started the night on the mound and lasted five innings, allowing five hits and one run on two walks and seven strikeouts. Jack Decker earned the win after entering in the sixth inning. Decker walked two and sat down one on strikes.
Piasecki was the leader offensively, going 3-for-4 and recording two RBI.
The win pushed Muskegon to a perfect 7-0 on the season. The Clippers will look to finish off the Monarchs with a series sweep when they travel to Cleary University at 7:05 p.m. Sunday.
