Walk-Off Completes Eight Run Comeback

Burlington, IA - Jeremy Figueroa (Mt. Mercy University) blasted a double into right center field, driving in Cedric Dunnwald (Mt.Mercy University) to secure a walk-off victory for the Burlington Bees (12-30, 6-7) against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes (16-24, 8-6) at Community Field July 17.

It was not your typical victory. After the top of the fifth, the scoreboard read 8-1 in favor of Springfield.

Burlington mounted an incredible comeback, rallying for four runs in the fifth inning, two in the seventh, and capping it off with two more in the ninth to score eight unanswered runs.

After two and a half shutout innings to open the match, the offense began in the bottom of third.

Figueroa walked with one out, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bryce Brown (Mt.Mercy University) singled to score his collegiate teammate. It was his 15th RBI in nine games.

Springfield responded by hitting through the order and scoring six runs on four hits and two errors in the fourth. The 'Shoes kept the momentum going in the fifth, adding two more runs on a pair of hits to open up a seven-run lead.

Dunnwald walked to lead off the bottom of the fifth.

Figueroa struck out looking in the next at-bat, prompting head coach Owen Oreskovich to storm out of the dugout to argue the call. He was ejected for the third time this season.

The ejection sparked the beginning of the comeback. Dillion Kuehl (Des Moines Area CC) walked to put runners on first and second.

Brown reached first on a throwing error at third base, leading Dunnwald to score. Landon Akers (Bellarmine) accumulated his fifth RBI on the year with a sacrifice fly.

Merrick Mathews (University of Iowa) kept the line moving by reaching first on an error at second base, which allowed Brown to score. Mathews finished the game one for five.

Michael Carrano Jr. (Parkland College) registered his first Bee hit with an RBI double that scored Mathews and made it 8-5. He is up to two RBI's in as many games.

Carrano recorded another highlight in the top of the sixth. Springfield outfielder Jimmy Koza, who was a 34 for 34 in stolen bases on the year, took off for second after a walk got him aboard.

The Parkland catcher unloaded a bullet to second to become the only catcher to throw Koza out this season.

The Bees kept chipping away in the seventh. Kuehl began the stanza with a hit by pitch. He finished with two runs in his debut with the team.

Brown registered another single to put runners on the first two bases. His final line was three for five, marking his third game in the last four with that stat line.

Akers grounded out to advance everyone up a bag. Carrano Jr. followed by being hit by a pitch to load the bases.

With two outs, Christian Dunn (Volunteer State) drove a ball through the right side of the infield to score a pair, bringing the score to 8-7. It marked his first RBI since June 22 in his first appearance since July 5.

The Bees gained significant momentum on a flawless defensive sequence in the ninth inning. It began when Lucky Horseshoes infielder Tyler Butina hit a ball over Dunnwald's head in center field.

Butina attempted to stretch it to third base. Burlington executed a relay that ended with Figueroa tagging Butina out at third. The team kept Springfield off the scoreboard for the fourth consecutive inning and sent the game to the bottom of the ninth.

Carrano Jr. singled to start the inning and Jace Figuereo (Southeastern CC) came in to pinch run. He stole second to get into scoring position.

After back to back outs, Dunnwald stepped up with the team still trailing one. He delivered a clutch bloop single to tie it up. It was his 30th hit of the season, as the outfielder finished one for four with two runs.

Now, in a tie game with a runner on first, Figuereoa became the hero. His double walked it off for his ninth hit in eight games. The infielder finished two for five with a run, RBI and walk.

Burlington used three pitchers in a wild effort. Jacob Sjuts (Des Moines Area CC) made his first start after committing to South Dakota State earlier this week.

After three shutout innings, the messy fourth inning resulted in a stat line of four innings pitched, allowing five hits and three earned runs. The big-righty struck out three.

Pitching Coach Tyler Richards' brother, Brady Richards (Sauk Valley CC), took over on the mound in his first appearance of the season in the fifth.

He allowed two runs on two hits before settling in, retiring 12 of the next 15 batters he faced. Richards finished with four innings pitched, allowing two earned runs and recording four strikeouts.

Michael Schaul (Mt.Mercy University) pitched a shutout ninth to get the win. He has thrown 11 straight without letting up an earned run.

Gavin Erhardt earned the loss for the Lucky Horseshoes.

The Bees finished with two errors and left 11 on-base. Springfield registered four errors.

Burlington tries to carry the momentum in another home matchup July 18 at 6:30 p.m.. Their opponent is the Jackson Rockabillys (25-18, 8-8)in Throwback Thursday: 50's Summer Nights & Ballpark Lights at Community Field.