Clarinda At Carroll Merchants
Carroll 10
Clarinda 0 (7 Innings)
The Merchants picked up a huge win on Monday night in a makeup game from Friday. They stay right in the playoff race, improving to 15-17, pulling within a 1 1/2 game of Chillicothe in the conference and 3 games behind overall. Carroll struck first and they struck last. Blake Tigges hit a 1-out single in the 2nd inning, moved to 2nd on a wild pitch and took 3rd on a single by Justin Johnson. Jordan Brandenburg hit a ball to 3rd, scoring Tigges as Brandenburg reached on an error. Carroll had a pair of hits in the inning, but left 2-runners on base. The lead grew to 3-0 in the 3rd. Ethan Cole singled and scored later on a bases loaded walk to Justin Johnson who picked up his second RBI. Kyle Berg moved to 3rd on the walk and scored on a wild pitch. Aiden Sieperda was cruising on the hill through the first 3 innings. He hadn’t given up a hit, stranding a pair of runners on base as the Merchants built their lead. Sieperda stayed in control, allowing only 3 hits. One of those came in the top 4th but he got a big strikeout to end the inning. Clarinda’s biggest threat came in the 6th innings, getting a pair of runners on base. Carroll got out of trouble, throwing a base stealer out at 2nd base. The Merchants nearly blew the game open in the bottom 6th, loading the bases on a pair of walks and a single. They didn’t score, but it set the table for the 7th. Kyle Berg singled with 1-out, followed by a single from Justin Johnson. Jordan Brandenburg singled to score Berg, advancing Johnson to 3rd. Lane Spieker drove in Jonson with a single and Michael Alt doubled to score Spieker and Brandenburg. Chris Hege singled, scoring Alt and the route was on. The game ended with a Joshua Koskie 2-run home run.
Michael Alt, Justin Johnson and Jordan Brandenburg all had 2 hits with Alt doubling and driving in a pair of runs. Johnson drove in a run and scored and Brandenburg drove in 2-runs. Joshua Koskie homered in his first game with the Merchants. Kyle Berg scored twice. Aidan Sieperda earned the win, allowing 3 hits, no runs and striking out 4 in 7 innings.
The Merchants are on the road at Chillicothe on Tuesday, then return home for St Joe on Wednesday and a doubleheader with Chillicothe at home on Thursday. This week could determine if the Merchants stay in the playoff chase.
Carroll Stats
Michael Alt 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, RS, SB
Chris Hege 1-4, RBI, RS, BB
Joshua Koskie 1-5, 2-Run HR, 2 RBI, RS
Ethan Cole 1-3, RS
Kyle Berg 1-3, 2 RS, BB
Blake Tigges 1-3, RS, BB
Justin Johnson 2-2, RBI, RS, 2 BB
Jordan Brandenburg 2-4, 2 RBI, RS
Lane Spieker 1-4, RBI, RS
Aidan Sieperda WP, 7 IP, 3 Hits, 0 RA, 4 K’s, 4 BB
Box Score
Teams 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Final
Clarinda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Carroll 0 1 2 0 0 0 7 10
