Lima Locos’ Bryant Herring misplays a fly ball against Muskegon during Sunday’s game at Simmons Field.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA – This doubleheader was the Lima Locos’ season in a nutshell.
There was plenty of good pitching and timely hitting mixed in with some so-so-pitching along the way.
The Locos managed a split of their doubleheader with Muskegon Sunday at Simmons Field.
Muskegon knocked off the Locos in the first game 10-5.
The Locos rebounded to take the second game 9-5.
Both games were seven innings.
“There were a lot of good things and there were a lot of bad things,” Locos coach Matt Furuto said. “It’s been up and down all summer and really one bad inning just kills us. If we can find a way to cut those in half or avoid those or make them earn everything, then we have a chance to come back in those games.’’
The Locos (15-15) stand five games behind first-place Michigan (20-10) and are tied with Jet Box (15-15) for second place for the final playoff spot in the North Division of the Great Lakes Collegiate League.
The Locos have eight regular-season games remaining.
“We’re in control of our own fate,” Furuto said. “As long as we play well and win games, we can take care of it (and reach the playoffs).’’
Muskegon is 13-17.
In the second game, the Locos jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning.
Isaiah Velazco had an RBI single to give the Locos a 1-0 lead.
Josh Mrozek’s sacrifice fly to center gave the Locos a 2-0 lead.
The big blast in the inning was a three-run home run to left by Carson Garner.
That gave the Locos a 5-0 lead.
“It was awesome,” Garner said. “We had gotten four singles in the inning. I knew I was going to
go up there and get something to hit and I did. I laid off the curveball and got the fastball I could hit.
“We were all pretty mad (after the first game) because we knew these were two pretty big games for the season. After the first game it was kind of like a rude awakening. We went and hit the cages and we were determined we weren’t going to lose again.’’
Muskegon got within 5-1 in the second.
The Locos responded with one in the home second on an RBI double by Derrick Jackson to give the Locos a 6-1 lead.
Lima added three in the fifth when Mrozek launched a three-run home run to right.
That gave the Locos a 9-2 lead.
The Clippers scored two in the sixth to get within 9-4. They added one more in the ninth to make it 9-5.
“The motto right now is find a way to get in the playoffs,” Garner said. “If we can find a way, then let’s go dancing.’’
Locos Game 2 starter Miller Riggins (Kennesaw State) made his first start of the summer after compiling a 1.74 ERA in 10 innings of relief.
Riggins relied heavily on his breaking ball and went five innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on five hits. He struck out five and walked three.
Riggins threw 82 pitches, 54 for strikes.
“It felt good,” Riggins said. “I think I did a good job of locking in and getting a lot of outs with what I didn’t think was my best stuff. I relied a lot on my curveball, which I don’t always do, but I did today.’’
Furuto said of Riggins, “I think he’ll be a starter (the rest of the summer). He’s done a great job. He’s super competitive and wants the ball.’’
The big inning for Riggins was the fifth when he had two outs and the bases loaded.
The Locos were leading 6-2 at the time.
He struck out Trent Nielsen on a 3-2 breaking ball.
“Bases loaded, 3-2, I knew the curveball had been my best pitch all day,” Riggins said. “I knew if I executed it, it was going to be an out. I was pretty pumped.’’
In the second game, Locos’ Jackson went 3 for 4 with an RBI.
Mrozek was 1 for 2 with a home run and four RBI.
Garner was 1 for 3 with a home run and three RBI.
Velazco was 2 for 3. Bryant Herring went 2 for 4.
The second game was tied at 1 after the first inning.
Muskegon exploded for seven runs in the second to grab an 8-1 lead.
In the second, the Locos made two errors and Lima starter Jonathan Machamer walked four.
Machamer went 11/3 innings and gave up eight runs, all earned, on four hits.
Muskegon pushed its lead to 10-2 in the fourth when Jacob Anderson blasted a two-run home run to left.
James Geshel (Western Michigan) earned the win with five innings of work. He gave up four runs, three earned, on five hits. He struck out four and walked two.
Geshel threw 90 pitches, 56 for strikes.
Anthony Kyle (Findlay) did a nice job in relief for the Locos. He went the final 52/3 innings and gave up two runs, both earned, on six hits. He struck out seven and walked two.
“He did a great job coming in a hard time,’’ Furuto said. “He challenges and throws strikes.’’
In the first game for the Locos, Jayden Davis went 2 for 3.
Brennen Norton went 2 for 4.
Locos notes: Locos named to the GLCL All-Star team were the following: shortstop Diego Gines, third baseman Brennen Norton, second baseman Jayden Davis, pitcher Hunter Pidek, pitcher Matt Gauer and pitcher Carter Doorn. Gines and Norton were named starters. The All-Star game is at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at Mason’s Prasco Park.
The Locos return after the All-Star break against Grand Lake at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Simmons Field.
Davis (Samford) leads in the league in hitting at .362. Doorn (Purdue) leads the league in ERA at 0.62.
