Bryce Brown Double Gives Bees Another Walk Off

Burlington, IA - When the Burlington Bees (14-31, 8-8) win, it has to be dramatic. In one of the most important games of the season, the team trailed 6-5 going into the ninth against the Clinton Lumberkings (26-18, 11-8)

With two outs, four straight hits were strung together. The nail in the coffin came from Bryce Brown (Mt.Mercy University), who blasted a double into the right center field gap that scored two to win the game and send Burlington into a frenzy.

The Bees have won five straight at Community Field. Clinton is in playoff position in the division, making this victory ever more crucial.

This game felt like a boxing match. The foes combined for 24 hits and no lead was greater than two runs.

The Lumberkings led off with two runs in the top of the first on four hits. Burlington's answer came in the second.

Brown began with a single for the team's first hit. Landon Akers (Bellarmine) singled and Michael Carrano Jr. (Parkland College) was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Nick Meyer (Mt.Mercy University) reached on a fielder's choice for an RBI. A wild throw to first allowed Meyer to get to second and another run to score.

Meyer finished one for four with an RBI to get to 16 on the season. Now a tie game and after a shutout top of the third, the Bees kept it going.

Jeremy Figueroa (Mt.Mercy University), with one out, stuck out but reached first on a wild pitch. A groundout from Corey Boyette (Heartland CC) got Figueroa to second and he stole third.

Akers singled in the infield to score one and give Burlington the lead. He finished three for four with an RBI and leads the team in hits totalling 42.

Clinton scored in the fourth and fifth to regain the lead. Figueroa led off the bottom of the halfway inning with a triple. It was only hit and first triple of the season, but had three runs.

Boyette flew into a sacrifice fly to score him for his 18th RBI to make it 4-4.

The Lumberkings countered with a two-out two run rally in the sixth. Logan Reidelberger (Drury University) doubled with one out in the bottom of the inning for his first Bee hit in his debut.

Cedric Dunnwald (Mt.Mercy University) brought him home to pull Burlington within one. It was his 12th RBI of the season.

The next five half innings were zeros. Six total pitchers were used among both teams.

Michael Schaul (Mt.Mercy University) made his first start of the season after throwing over 20 innings out of the bullpen. The side-arm deliverer went for 5.2, allowing four earned runs with three strikeouts.

Jack Duncan (Western Illinois) went next. After getting the last out of the sixth, he finished with 2.1 shutout innings. The reliever allowed one hit and had two strikeouts.

Erik Kiewiet (Mt.Mercy University) came in for the ninth and received the win. He got out of a bases loaded jam giving Burlington the momentum for its late comeback.

Jack Turgasen received the loss.

Cooper Donlin (Hawaii-Pacific) pinch hit to start off the bottom of the ninth. He poked a single through the right side of the infield to extend his on-base streak to 28.

After reaching second on a wild pitch, Dunnwald flew out. Donlin initially tagged at second and reached third, but the base umpire Jacob Hudson ruled him out for leaving early. Now with two outs on the board, the Bees needed their clutchest hitting of the year.

Figueroa started it off by reaching on an infield error to get one on. Boyette singled to put first and second on.
Brown delivered the winner on a double that scored the pair. Including the massive moment, Brown had a three for four day with a walk and two RBI's. The Mustang has 18 RBI's in 12 games.

After the thrilling victory, Burlington has an intersquad scrimmage and home run derby at home on Community Basket Day at 2:00 p.m.

The team returns to regular season play with another matchup July 22 against Clinton at 6:30 p.m.