LocalSportsJournal.com
HOWELL – A dominant 17-2 win over the Michigan Monarchs set the tone for a Friday night sweep for the Clippers. Muskegon carried that momentum into the second game with a 5-1 win.
No time was wasted in the first game. The Clippers used patient at bats and savvy movement on the base paths to get out to a quick 4-0 lead. Four Clippers walked and one was hit by a pitch before Brandon Scheurer notched the only hit in the top of the first; two runs scored on that hit.
The Monarchs responded with two hits and runs of their own, but a second inning barrage from Muskegon put them in the driver’s seat permanently.
A lead-off walk for Stoney Smith put a runner on base quickly. Aaron Piasecki then notched a single to put Smith into scoring position. Like clockwork, Colin Cornwell and Sheehan O’Connor both doubled, scoring three runs in the process.
Shortly after that, Muskegon had an 8-2 lead with the bases loaded. Luke Kerrins batted in two runs on a double. By the end of the second inning, the Clippers were owners of a 12-2 advantage.
Muskegon paired its dominance at the plate, sound defense and solid pitching the rest of the way. The Monarchs were held without another hit the rest of the way while the Clippers added five more runs of their own.
Jabin Bates and Cornwell led the way offensively going 2-for-4. Smith (3), O’Connor (3), Bates (4) and Kerrins (3) all had multiple RBI.
Daniel Gutierrez earned the win, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four through five innings of work. Ethan Henry threw two innings in relief.
Game 2 got off to a slower start as both teams combined for just one hit through the first two innings. In the top of the third, however, the Clippers used hits from Cornwell, Piasecki and Arbogast to take a narrow 1-0 lead.
The Clippers built on that lead in the fifth inning when Cornwell led off with a double. Two batters later, Piasecki knocked him in with a single, then scored himself on a passed ball.
Two more hits and runs in the sixth inning had Muskegon looking at a potential shutout win, with a 5-0 lead. The Monarchs were able to scrape up one run on two hits in the bottom of the seventh to avoid the shutout, but failed to do much more than that.
Cornwell shined once again, converting on three of his four chances at the plate with two RBI.
Jack Decker grabbed the win on the mound for Muskegon by throwing a complete game. Decker allowed just one run on six hits while striking out nine batters.
The Clippers are back on a win streak with three straight and a 15-2 overall record. Muskegon will be back in action at 7:05 p.m. Saturday when they look to complete the three-game series with the Monarchs at Marsh Field.
