LumberKings' Late Rally Falls Short in 11-10 Extra-Inning Heartbreaker to Bees

CLINTON, Iowa — The Clinton LumberKings (2-2) stormed back from a 7-run deficit to force extras, but ultimately fell 11-10 in 10 innings to the Burlington Bees (2-2) in a wild Prospect League clash Friday night at NelsonCorp Field.

Trailing 9-2 after 5 innings, the Kings erupted for 8 runs over the next three frames—highlighted by a 4-run 6th and a 3-run 8th—to knot things up at 10-10. But the Bees scratched across two in the top of the 10th and held off a Clinton rally in the bottom half to escape with the win.

Clinton had chances throughout, pounding out 13 hits and drawing 8 walks. Brayden Mulkey led the charge with a 3-for-6 night that included a double and an RBI. Austin Mallee drove in 2, while Kaden Frommelt and Max Burt each added clutch RBIs during the comeback push.

The LumberKings capitalized on a pair of Burlington errors and multiple wild pitches to chip away at the deficit, finally tying it in the 8th on Burt's 2-run single. Relievers Hunter Dierksen and Jake Weissenberger held the Bees scoreless from the 7th through 9th, giving Clinton a chance to steal the win.

But the Bees' Conor Fitzpatrick drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th, and the Kings couldn't deliver the walk-off despite putting the tying run on base.

JC Dermody started and tossed 3 innings of 2-run ball with 3 strikeouts. Luke Kehrli was hit hard in relief, surrendering 7 earned runs across 3 innings. Hunter Dierksen provided 2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Camden Clewett (0-1) was tagged with the loss, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) in 1.2 innings. Jake Weissenberger recorded the final out of the 10th.

For Burlington, Danny Harris opened with 3 innings, striking out 5 and allowing no earned runs. Braeden Sunken (1-0) earned the win, throwing 2 innings of 1-run ball with 3 strikeouts to close it out.

The series continues tomorrow with first pitch at 6:30 p.m. at NelsonCorp Field. Clinton will look to bounce back and secure the series win.