Bees Outlast Lumberkings for First Road Win

Clinton, IA - It took 10 innings for the Burlington Bees (2-2) to get their first road victory, as the team defeated the Clinton Lumeberkings (2-2) 11-10 in the first meeting of the season between the interstate foes May 30. 

The Bees rode a six-run fifth inning nearly to victory. The team led 9-2 going into the bottom of the sixth. 

Clinton chipped away, scoring four times in the sixth and three times in the eighth to tie the game up at nine.

Burlington's scoring began all the way in the second inning. Keanu Spenser (Hawaii-Pacific) jump-started the offense, hitting his second home run of the year.

Dash Denton (Rock Valley College) singled to extend the inning and reached third on a stolen base and balk. A Clinton error allowed him to score.

The big fifth inning started on a Conor Fitzpatrick (Eureka) walk and Connor Kave (Harper College) single. Ryan Skwarek (McHenry College) scored one on a sacrifice fly.

Kooper Schulte (Iowa) doubled to bring home Kave and Corey Boyette (Lipscomb) singled in his season debut to put another on board. 

The team followed by loading the bases, with Kila Teixeira (Hawaii-Pacific) working a walk to score another. 

Fitzpatrick came up for the second time and picked up a  two RBI single, before being out at second to end the rally. 

Spenser registered another RBI in the sixth on a double to score Skwarek and put Burlington up seven. 

After Clinton's comeback, the Bees found their footing in extra innings. With Kave being the automatic runner on second, the outfielder advanced to third on a wild pitch. A Schulte sacrifice fly put Burlington back in front. 

Spenser scored the eventual winning run on an RBI groundout

Burlington used six pitchers over the 10 innings. Danny Harris (Mesa CC) started and went three innings, allowing four hits and no earned runs while striking out five,.

Amidst the wave of relievers, Raul Gil (Highland) tossed 1.2 innings, allowing no earned runs and four hits. 

Braeden Sunken (Maryville) provided stability when the team needed it. He received the win, tossing two innings of no earned run ball in the ninth and tenth. 

Camden Clewett received the loss for Clinton. 

After today's thriller, the two teams face off again at Nelsoncorp Field at 6:30 p.m. May 31. It is the final game of Burlington's four game road trip