Burlington Strand 16 In Home Loss

Burlington, IA - Sixteen runners left on base, including the bases loaded in three consecutive innings, captures the challenges faced by the Burlington offense on June 20.

The Burlington Bees (5-15) suffered their fourth consecutive loss, falling to the Normal Cornbelters (9-11) in a slugfest 16-7, at Community Field.

11 total pitchers were used and 27 total hits were registered in a near four hour game.

The team's exchanged blows early. The score read 6-5 Cornbelter lead after the first three innings.

Skyler Agnew (Hawaii-Pacific) blasted his first Burlington homer in the bottom of the second to get the team on the board. He followed with an RBI single in the next frame.

Agnew finished two for three with two runs, three RBIs and a walk.

After the one run differential through the first three, Burlington ran out of gas. Normal would score seven runs over the next two innings to run away with it.

Despite the tough day for the pitchers, every Burlington batter reached base. Cooper Donlin (Hawaii-Pacific) went two for three before leaving the game early and Cedric Dunnwald (Mt. Mercy University) was two for three with three runs.

Two of the five Burlington pitchers had strong days. Matthew Dinae (Howard College) made his 2024 Bees debut and struck out two in a shutout inning of work. Dinae was on the roster last year, returning to the bullpen for the '24 campaign.

Michael Schaul (Mt. Mercy University) gave the team much needed stability, throwing for three shutout innings before letting three in the ninth. His final line was four innings, with seven hits, three earned runs and strikeouts.

Burlington has the same date tomorrow, traveling to Normal. The two teams face off at the Corn Crib at 6:30 p.m. as Burlington looks for its first road win.