Sluggers edged by Clippers

FINDLAY – Four Flag City Sluggers' pitchers combined to allow just four hits to the Muskegon Wednesday, but the Clippers managed to send the Sluggers to a fourth straight loss, 3-2. The Clippers got all of their runs in the third inning of Flag City starting pitcher Carson Klausing. Klausing allowed just one hit over 3 2/3 innings, but walked six in taking the loss. He struck out one. In the third, trailing 1-0, the Clippers loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batter. Klausing then walked Muskegon's Taylor Head to force in a run, then with one out, Jackson Isaacs singled to drive in two runs. The Sluggers scored single runs in the second and fourth, but were limited to just seven singles. Brett Reed didn't have a hit for Flag City, but did drive in a run. Trey Gardner singled and also had an RBI. Harrison Engskov, the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League's leading hitter, had a single and is now batting .371. Nathan Masar was Muskegon's starting pitcher, and went the first four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and getting a no-decision. Alex Hardacre threw five scoreless innings to close the game out, getting the win. He gave up three hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out four. On Tuesday, Flag City looked like it was in firm control against the Clippers, at least for the first four innings. Flag City scored in three of the first four innings, and grabbed a 6-2 advantage over the Clippers going to the seventh inning. But Muskegon erupted in the seventh, scoring seven times to take the lead. They added three in the eighth and five in the ninth to come away with a 17-8 win. Ashten Wong led the Clippers at the plate with three hits – including a homer – four runs scored and three RBIs. Jack Backus added four singles and three RBIs. Backus entered Wednesday's game with a .352 batting average. Clippers reliever Winston Delp threw 3 2/3 innings to pick up the win. He allowed two runs on three hits, striking out one and walking one. For the Sluggers, Engskov – as usual – was in the middle of the team's offensive production. He went 2 for 4 and scored a run. Will Lafferty singled twice, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs for Flag City. Caleb Smith singled and had a team-best three RBIs. Findlay High graduate Ben Best started on the mound for the Sluggers and went four innings, getting a no-decision. Best allowed a run, walking three and striking out three while yielding three hits. Ashton Williams took the loss for the Sluggers in relief. The Clippers improved to 13-16; the Sluggers slipped to 13-14. The teams will complete the three-game set at 6:05 p.m. today at Marathon Diamonds.