Pitchers Drive Sweep over Clinton

Clinton, IA - After the first game between the Burlington Bees (3-2) and Clinton Lumberkings (2-3) totaled 21 runs, the rematch a day later fell on the opposite side of the coin.

Burlington's pitchers stepped up in a big way. Four arms allowed two earned runs, left nine on base, and struck out 12. The Bees used this to steer a 4-3 victory over their interstate rival.

The team is over .500 for the first time since the 2023 season. 

Kaelen Clarkson (SUNY Plattsburgh) got the start. The Ontario product picked up six strikeouts, giving up one earned over four innings.

Dylan Eggl (Ohio) went next, letting up two hits and one earned run across two innings. He received the win.

The Bees led by one going into the seventh, with Mitchell Cox (Crown College) taking the bump in a crucial spot. 

The California native struck out four over two innings with just one hit and no runs surrendered. 

Parker Lewin (Minnesota) pitched the ninth and got the save. Lewin left runners on second and third to end the game. 

The Bees' bats registered 11 hits.

Clinton scored in the first and Burlington would not answer until the third.

Connor Kave (Harper) singled with two outs and moved to scoring position on a wild pitch. Ryan Skwarek (McHenry) picked up a single to score him. It is his third RBI of the year. 

The Bees scored twice an inning later. Caleb Seibers (Olney Central) singled, Griffen Bushnell (Mount Mercy) doubled and Dash Denton (Rock Valley) walked to load the bases. 

Conor Fitzpatrick (Eureka) grounded out to score Seibers and pick up an RBI to give Burlington the lead. Bushnell scored on a passed ball to make it 3-1. 

Clinton pulled within one in the bottom of the fourth and tied it at three in the sixth.

The top of the order came up with the winning run in the seventh. Keanu Spenser (Hawaii-Pacific) singled with two outs.

Corey Boyette (Lipscomb) doubled to make it 4-3. The outfielder has an RBI in each of his two games played. 

Every Burlington starter reached at least once, with eight having hits. The top four hitters in the order totaled seven hits. 

Will Schufreider received the loss for the Lumberkings. The team stays at home, taking on the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp (3-2) tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. 

The Bees return to Community Field after this four game road trip, taking on the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes (4-1) June 1 at 2:00 p.m. 

Clinton and Burlington have a two game set June 6 and 7 at Community Field.