Clinton clips Wisconsin in game one
CLINTON, IA - A pair of Clinton LumberKings pitchers held the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to two hits during a 4-2 win in game one of a doubleheader Saturday at Ashford University Field. Tyler Pike pitched five innings and struck out four for the win. Dario Pizzano's two run double put the LumberKings ahead to stay.
Mitch Haniger wasted no time in putting the Timber Rattlers (4-7) on the scoreboard after the three-day layoff. Wisconsin's right fielder cracked a two-out solo homer off the scoreboard in left-center. But, that was the only hit Wisconsin would get off Pike.
Clinton (6-8) would plate a run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game.
Pizzano gave the LumberKings the lead in the bottom of the third. Pizzano's two-out double to right-center drove in a pair of runs and Clinton was up 3-1.
Pike turned the game over to Clinton reliever Blake Hauser in the top of the sixth. Hauser retired the Rattlers in order.
Clinton added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to go up 4-1.
Clint Coulter was hit by a pitch to reach base against Hauser to start the top of the seventh. A one-out double by Mike Garza scored Coulter to cut Clinton's lead to two runs. Then, Orlando Arcia drew a walk to put the tying run on base. But, Hauser retired the next two batters to nail down the win for the LumberKings.
The loss was the third straight for Wisconsin.
HOME RUN:
WI:
Mitch Haniger (1st, 0 on in 1st inning off Tyler Pike, 2 out)
WP: Tyler Pike (1-2)
LP: Preston Gainey (0-2)
SAVE: Blake Hauser (1)
TIME: 2:00