Burlington Remains Atop Division With Win Over Springfield

Burlington, IA - In a battle between two teams leading their respective divisions, the Burlington Bees (4-2) defeated the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes (4-2) 8-5 June 1 at Community Field

The Bees have won three straight and are 2-0 at home. Springfield entered with the best record in the league.

Burlington scored in each of the first five innings, including four runs in the top of the first. The team's eight runs came on just seven hits.

Connor Kave (Harper College) began the day with a single. Ryan Skwarek (McHenry) followed with his sixth hit by pitch of the year.

Kooper Schulte (Iowa) reached on an error that loaded the bases. Keanu Spenser (Hawaii-Pacific) put the team on the board with a hit by pitch and RBI.

Corey Boyette (Lipscomb) singled to score another. It is his third RBI in as many games. A wild pitch made it 3-0. 

Kila Teixeira (Hawaii-Pacific) brought home another on a sacrifice fly. He finished 1-3 with a walk. 

The second inning saw another run. Skwarek walked to begin the stanza. After another hit by pitch moved him to second, he stole third and scored on a wild pitch. 

Springfield got on the board in the third on a homerun. Burlington answered in the bottom of the inning, beginning with Conor Fitzpatrick (Eureka) reaching on an error. 

Another error and wild pitch moved him to third. Schulte flew out to score him for his 10th RBI of the year. 

The Lucky Horseshoes pulled within three with a two run fourth inning. 

Caleb Seibers (Olney Central) began the fourth with a single and stole second. Teixeria got a hit to put the lead runner on third and Fitzpatrick grounded out to score him.

The Bees tacked on another in the fifth. Skwarek singled to kick off the frame and Schulte reached on a fielder's choice.

Spenser doubled to right for his eighth RBI of the year. 

Four Burlington pitchers kept the team in it for the victory.

Jackson Rodgers (Western Illinois) went for the longest start of the year of any Bee. The righty got the win, going five innings with six strikeouts and one earned run. 

Zach Leuschen (Mt.Marty) tossed two innings, letting up one earned run. The Burlington native has given up one run in 3.2 innings this year. 

Kyle Smith (UHSP) tossed a shutout in the eighth inning.

Braeden Sunken (Maryville) got the save after starting at DH, letting up one hit to end the game. 

The 'Shoes finished with four errors. Burlington had three errors while not walking a batter. 

Springfield has the day off June 1. 

Burlington faces off against the Normal Cornbelters (3-2) at 12 p.m. tomorrow for Kids Day at Community Field.