MUSKEGON – The Muskegon Clippers are going to be one ornery team on Saturday night.

That’s because they lost a chance to clinch a postseason playoff spot on Friday when they blew a three-run lead and fell 5-4 to the Sandusky Ice Haulers at Marsh Field.

The Clippers were not happy with the home plate umpire, who made several ball and strike calls that left batters shaking their heads and Manager Logan Fleener complaining.

They were not happy with their defense, which failed to convert on several double play opportunities.

And they were not happy that they failed to push the tying run across the plate in the ninth inning with runners on second and third and nobody out.

All of that unhappiness could bring positive results on Saturday when the two teams go at it again at 7:05 p.m. in Muskegon.

After all, the first-place Clippers, now 24-5, have not lost two games in a row all season, and are eager to clinch a playoff spot with nine games left in the regular season.

“We didn’t make plays early in the game and when you’re in close games late in the season you have to make those plays,” Fleener said. “We can talk about the no contact at the end of the game, but the fact is we have been good at picking the baseball and we didn’t pick the baseball today.”

The Clippers only managed two hits in the contest, and Fleener believes the umpire’s questionable ball-and-strike calls altered his batters’ approach. But he didn’t use that as an excuse for the lack of offense.

“He had a big strike zone all day long on both sides, we let the emotions of the game change us. and that hasn’t happened all year long,” Fleener said.

“My job is to worry about the umpires and it’s the players’ job to get in the box and compete with what is being called.”

The game started out slow for the Clippers, who trailed 1-0 after Sandusky’s Luke Walton hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning.

Muskegon countered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth, when Aaron Piasecki hit an RBI sacrifice fly, Brett Stanley added an RBI single, then Colin Cornwell knocked home two with another single.

Sandusky refused to go away, however, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh and another in the top of the eighth to take a 5-4 lead.

The Clippers certainly had their chances in the bottom of the ninth when Cornwell walked and Sam Lisiak hit a grounder to the mound that turned into an error when the pitcher made a bad throw to second base. That left runners at second and third with no outs and victory just one swing away.

But the next three Muskegon batters – Jabin Bates, Aidan Arbogast and  Caleb Sanders all struck out, ending the game and delaying the playoff celebration by at least one day.

The loss wasted a strong performance by Clippers starting pitcher Matt Hoover, who scattered four hits and struck out six with only one walk in 6 2/3 innings.