FINDLAY, Ohio — A strong start couldn’t carry the Flag City Sluggers to the finish line Monday night, as the Muskegon Clippers stormed back for a 17-8 win to open a three-game set.

Flag City came out swinging, jumping to a 5-1 lead by the fourth inning. Tanner Powell got things going in the first with a two-out RBI double to score Brett Reed. In the second, Will Lafferty cleared the bases with a double of his own, and Caleb Smith later added two more RBIs with a chop shot over third.

Findlay native and Ohio Northern sophomore Ben Best got the start for the Sluggers, striking out three and allowing just one run over four innings of work.

But the Clippers exploded for 15 runs over the final three innings to turn the game upside down and hand the Sluggers their third straight loss. With the defeat, Flag City now shares second place in their division.

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