Clark Shuts Down Mules

  The Rangers picked up their first divisional win by defeating the Dayton Attack Mules 9-3 on Sunday.

      Jacob Robinson took the mound for the Rangers and was effective for four innings, striking out seven along the way. Robinson gave way to rookie right-hander Brad Clark in the fifth. Clark, fresh off his DI regional finals win over nationally ranked Cincinnati Elder, held off the Mules attack by giving up only two hits over the final five innings.

      The Rangers took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Joe Staten led off the game by reaching base on an error despite an outstanding defensive stop by AM's second baseman Steve Fryman. After a wild pitch allowed Staten to reach third, shortstop Jonmarc Lippincott laced a single to right to drive in the first run of the game. The Attack Mules answered with a run in the bottom frame after hits by Jon Sendlebach, Chad Rother, and Randy Hubley.

      Rangers 2B Jared Bradley led of the third with a single to left and eventually came around to score on a fielder's choice. But the Mules took their only lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth scoring a run on a throwing error and another off the bat of Sendlebach.

      The Rangers pulled away in the sixth as four Rangers batters walked en route to a six-run inning. Clark finished off the game by retiring 10 of the last 11 batters he faced with the help of some defensive support from Lippincott at short, proving to many, including himself, that age has not hindered his range...yet.

      Offensively, the Rangers were led by Jonmarc Lippincott and James Robinson, who each had a pair of hits on the day. Lippincott and Staten each had 2 RBIs. James Robinson and Jelani Arnold also had an RBI each.