LocalSportsJournal.com

ROYAL OAK – Tuesday night brought the pitchers into the spotlight for the Muskegon Clippers as they split a doubleheader with the Royal Oak Leprechauns.

Muskegon won the opener 1-0 and lost the nightcap 3-2, in sudden death in the ninth inning.

DJ Thompson was on the mound for Muskegon in Game 1 and his team needed every bit of his five innings of work. The first three innings of action saw stagnant bats from Muskegon, but thanks to Thompson and the defense, Royal Oak was unable to turn their two hits into any runs over that period.

In the fourth inning, the Clippers finally got the bats moving with a lead-off double from Stoney Smith. Two consecutive strikeouts left them in danger of stranding a runner in scoring position, but a fielding error allowed Donovan Rinehart to reach base. Colin Cornwell followed that effort up with a single to score Smith and give Muskegon a 1-0 advantage.

Both the Clippers and Leprechauns traded blows in the fourth and fifth innings, but Muskegon remained ahead. Thompson was sat down to start the sixth, allowing Ben Alderson the chance to earn the save with two innings left.

Alderson did just that, allowing no hits or runs and striking out five batters. Thompson struck out six through the first five innings.

Game 2 was just as harsh on Muskegon’s offense, resulting in another low-scoring affair.

After three scoreless innings for both sides, the Clippers struck first in the top of the fourth. A leadoff double from Cornwell was followed up by a single from Griffin Clark. Cornwell later scored thanks to a sacrifice fly from Jabin Bates. 

The fifth inning was strong for Muskegon as well. Caleb Sanders started the Clippers off with a triple and scored on another sacrifice fly, this time from Danny Passinault. Up 2-0 at the end of the fifth, starting pitcher Gavin Sitarz came out in favor of Ryan Chamberlain.

Chamberlain struggled, giving up a walk to the first batter he faced before allowing another walk and two hits. That was enough for Royal Oak to tie the game at 2-2 and force an early exit for Chamberlain after facing just five batters.

Muskegon was able to keep the Leprechauns at bay, but unfortunately their opponent did the same to them. At the end of eight innings, the score remained 2-2. Royal Oak scored in sudden death in the bottom of the ninth and won then nightcap.

Sitarz was consistent on the mound, pitching nearly five whole innings without allowing a single run on five hits and striking out six.

At the plate, Cornwell went a combined 3-for-7 with an RBI. Sanders and Aaron Piasecki also had multiple hits across the two games.

The win and tie moved Muskegon to 22-4-1 on the year. They will look to extend their lead in the four-game series with Royal Oak when they host the Leprechauns at Marsh Field, 7:05 p.m. Wednesday.