Clippers fall in game one as game two gets halted

Box score Game 1

The Clippers headed down to New Jersey to face off against the Caldwell College Cougars.  The Clippers struggled at the start of game one as the Cougars went up 3-0 after the first two innings of play. 

The Clippers started off the top of the third as Donnie Roth was walked aboard with one out.  Roth then moved up on a passed ball and was joined shortly after as Billy O'Connell was walked with two outs.  A single by David Perlleshi scored Roth and Perlleshi moved up to second as O'Connell moved to third on an error.  Greg Conway then stepped up and knocked a ball over the left field fence for a three run home run and the Clippers took the 4-3 lead. 

The Cougars came back in the bottom of the fourth to reclaim the lead as they scored three. 

The Clippers returned a couple of the runs in the sixth ining as Donnie Roth hit a single through the left side.  A home run over the centerfield fence from TJ Walsh kept the inning going and gave the Clippers two more runs.

The Cougars continued to score through the seventh inning and the Clippers found themselves trailing 6-13. 

The Clippers got three more runs in the top of the eighth inning after Donnie Roth and TJ Walsh were both walked aboard with one out.  A double down the right field line from Billy O'Connell scored Roth and the Clippers had runners in scoring position.  The Clippers then loaded the bases as David Perlleshi was hit by a pitch.  Greg Conway was then walked to bring home Walsh and gave the Clippers another run.  With a sacrifice fly to right field by Difre Reyes tacked on another run for the Clippers and now they were only down four. 

The top of the ninth saw John Pliego led off with a single to centerfield to start.  TJ Walsh then knocked a single to left field to move Pliego up to second.  Billy O'Connell hit a single to centerfield to score Pliego and kept the inning moving for the Clippers.  With a single through the right side by David Perlleshi, Walsh was able to score and the Clippers were only down by two.  Unfortunately the Chargers got the Clippers out and the Clippers fell 11-13.

Game two brought on some interesting things as darkness fell, the Clippers played under the lights. 

The Clippers struck first in game two right away as John Pliego hit a single to the shortstop.  Billy O'Connell then hit a single to left field and Pliego moved up to second.  A single to center field from David Perlleshi scored Pliego and the Clippers were up 1-0. 

The Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the first as the Clippers were throwing veteran pitcher Tommy Paradise. 

It took until the fifth inning for the Clippers to score again as David Perlleshi started the inning off with a two hit by pitch to gain access to the bases.  Greg Conway struck out but was able to reach first as the ball went past the catcher.  Difre Reyes then hit a single to left field and Perlleshi scored to give the Clippers the lead. 

With Tommy Paradise still pitching the Cougars threatened and were unable to get anywhere.  In the bottom of the sixth inning Paradise already ahead in the inning as there were two outs, the Cougars had a runner on second base, and the batter already had one strike on him, the lights on the field went out.  The game eventually was halted and would have to be picked up at a later date. 

TO BE CONTINUED.....