Bees Comeback Falls Short

The Bees kept it close, trailing 2-1 through five innings.  Then Clinton exploded for seven runs in the top of the sixth, and it was not close any more.  The Bees trailed 9-1.

As has been their tendency, the Bees clawed back into it with two runs in the seventh on a one out hit by pitch of newcomer Zach Barden.  Keegan Schmitt followed with a walk.  A Connor Laeng single, one of two hits on the night for the Bees shortstop, loaded the bases.  Jaden Hackbarth knocked in a run with a single, and one out later Caleb Wulf, also with a two hit night, singled and drove in a run.

Now it was close gain.

Going in to the bottom of the eighth, Drew Dykstra came on to throw for the visitors.  He walked Ian Wolski.  An out later Barden walked.  With two out, Laeng launched an RBI single to center scoring Wolski.  Jaden Hackbarth walked to reload them.  Coy Sarsfield earned a tough RBI taking a pitch off the shoulder.  Wulf picked up an RBI with a walk.  Corey Boyette walked making it 10-7.

That is as close as it would get.  Clinton tacked on two more I the ninth pushing the final to 12-7.

Wulf had three runs batted in for the game on a 2-3 night.  He also scored a run.  The Southeastern Community College sophomore is now batting .377 on the year.  Sarsfield and Laeng also had two hits.

Adrian Nery (1-4) took the loss.  Sebastian Parchomenko (1-1) earned the win.  Evan Chung was awarded a save.

The LumberKings and Bees, a couple of old Midwest League rival, square off again Friday.  First pitch is 6:30.