The Lima Locos’ Kaden Arn pitches the first game of a Tuesday doubleheader against the Muskegon Clippers at Simmons Field.
The Lima Locos found themselves right back where they started after splitting a Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League baseball doubleheader with the Muskegon Clippers on Tuesday at Simmons Field.
The Locos (17-6) started the day two games behind the Clippers (17-3) in the North Division of the GLSCL. At the end of the day they found themselves in the same situation they were in before Tuesday’s games after they won the first game of the doubleheader 5-3, but then lost the second game 2-0.
There is still a chance for the Locos to cut that margin in half and draw closer in a game at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at Simmons Field to conclude the three-game series against Muskegon.
For the Locos, it was a tale of two different offenses in Tuesday’s two games. They had nine hits in their win in the first game and only two against Muskegon right-hander D.J. Thompson (8 strikeouts, 1 walk) in the second game. Thompson was so dominant that Clippers outfielders had to make only four plays — picking up the two hits and catching two fly balls.
In the first game, Eduarny Martinez went 3 for 3, with two triples and a double, and scored three runs for the Locos.
Cade Belyeu was 2 for 3 and drove in two runs. Justin Rumfield was 2 for 3 and drove in a run.
Winning pitcher Kaden Arn pitched into the sixth inning, allowed three hits, three runs, and one earned run. He struck out five and walked three. Micah Takac, who came on in the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded, recorded a two-inning save.
“We had good at bats,” Locos coach Chad Ehrnsberger said about the first game. “We’ve talked all summer that when we have good at bats, we have success. In the first game we did what we were supposed to do. It was a well-played game all the way around.”
The Locos jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning in the first game when Martinez walked and Belyeu singled to score him.
Muskegon tied the game in the top of the third on a walk to Nicolas Hawkins, a single by Danny Passinault and a double by Stoney Smith.
The Locos scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth when Martinez led off with a double, Rumfield drove him in with a single, Hudson Parker hit a run-scoring double and Anthony Zarlingo singled to score Parker.
They increased their lead to 5-1 in the fifth inning when Martinez tripled and Belyeu singled to score him.
“When he hits the ball good things happen. We’re just working on being more consistent. He’s getting there. He’s getting more confident and hopefully he’s seeing the success he’s having is because of the hard work he’s putting in,” Ehrnsberger said about Martinez.
Muskegon scored two runs in the sixth inning without getting a hit to cut the lead to 5-3. The Clippers got those runs on two walks, a hit batter, two errors and a fielder’s choice.
Muskegon got one runner on base with two out in the seventh inning but Takac got the final out on a fly ball.
The Locos also got solid pitching in the second game from Jacob Pruitt (9 strikeouts, 0 walks), who allowed only three hits in what will be his last game with the Locos.
“This is the last time we’ll have him. He’s going to head back to school (Indiana State) after today. He went out on a good note. He got the loss but that was kind of out of his hands. It’s going to be sad to see him go,” Ehrnsberger said.
Muskegon got its two runs in second game in the top of the third inning on an error, two singles, a hit batter and a ground out. From there, Thompson took over.
“From the third base (coaching) box I’m not sure what was going on. Obviously, he was doing something and our hitters couldn’t hit it. You’ve got to give him credit,” Ehrnsberger said.
The Locos’s best chance to score was in the bottom of the first inning when Zarlingo led off with a single, stole second base and got to third base on a ground out, but was stranded there.
Reach Jim Naveau at 567-242-0451.
