Burlington Wins a Thriller in Extras Over Illinois Valley

Burlington, IA – A game full of lead changes saw the Burlington Bees (8-7, 19-21) needing to push runs across in the ninth and tenth innings to extend the game. They came through each time to force an eleventh inning before Zach Troxel (Indiana Wesleyan) held the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp (3-10, 11-27) off the scoreboard in the top of the inning before Juan Fernandez (SCC) scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the frame as Burlington defeated Illinois Valley 8-7 in 11 innings on July 12 at Community Field.

The scoring started in the second as Rowen Bergeron (LSU-Eunice) began the bottom half of the inning with a double before coming around to score on a Troy Peltz (Iowa Western) single and a throwing error.

The two teams would exchange runs in the third before the Pistol Shrimp tied the game in the top of the fourth.

Burlington would jump back in front in the bottom of the fourth as Jace Figuereo (South Dakota State) and Fernandez each recorded RBIs.

The score remained 4-2 until Illinois Valley scored one in the sixth and two in the seventh to take their first lead of the game.

Eddie Scaccia of the Pistol Shrimp tossed five scoreless innings out of relief to keep Illinois Valley in front going into the bottom of the ninth. However, a pitching change was made, and Burlington was able to force extras as Figuereo started the inning with a double. An unsuccessful sacrifice bunt attempt retired Figuereo at third, but the Bees still tied the game as Fernandez scored on a passed ball.

In the top of the tenth, Illinois Valley scored two runs on two hits to take a 7-5 advantage.

Needing two runs in the bottom of the tenth, Tanner Reinartz (Huntington) singled in Peltz to cut the deficit to one. Tate Slagle (Iowa) pinch ran for Reinartz and scored as Illinois Valley dropped a pop fly in left field.

In the eleventh, a groundout moved the ghost runner from second base over to third base until a fielder's choice got a runner out at home. After a two out double to put runners on second and third, Troxel induced a groundout to escape the inning and keep the Pistol Shrimp off the board.

Fernandez began the bottom of the eleventh as the ghost runner on second base and advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw. He would come in to score the winning run on a wild pitch.

Braden Vanderheydt threw six innings on the mound for the Bees, allowing two earned runs in a no-decision. Sean O'Dowd (Oakton CC) pitched two scoreless frames out of relief and Troxel did not allow an earned run in three innings to pick up the win and improve his record to 3-0.

Burlington improves to 4-1 since the all-star break. They return to action on Tuesday night taking on the Quincy Doggy Paddlers with first pitch set for 6:30 pm at QU Stadium.