Bees Hold Off Alton for 4-3 Win
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Alton River Dragons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
|
Burlington Bees | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 4 | 8 | 1 |
Former Bees closer and 2023 National NAIA Reliever of the Year Reece Wissinger returned to Burlington Thursday night, this time as a starter. Wissinger's Southeastern University coaches are hoping to covert him from the pen. The Bees welcomed the opportunity to give the big righty some late season work, and he did not disappoint.
The former Burlington High School standout tossed four scoreless innings, striking out six, walking none and allowing one hit. He threw 57 pitches. Of those 35 were strikes.
He left the game with a 1-0 lead. The offense for its part put runners on base, but had trouble pushing them across. Burlington stranded 9 runners in the first four inning alone, and 12 in the game.
The Bees plated a run in the third when Mason Schwalbach led off with a hit by pitch. He stole second. One out, and a walk later, Caleb Wulf singled loading the bases. Mitch Wood earned an RBI with a sacrifice fly.
Burlington tacked on another run in the fifth. Wulf singled. He went to second on a wild pitch. He went to third on a fly out, then scored on Tanner Holland's single to center. 2-0 Bees.
With Alton batting in the top of the eighth, a walk, steal, passed ball, walk, wild pitch sequence led to an unearned run, cutting the lead in half.
Corey Boyette smashed a two run bomb to right in the bottom of the inning, giving the Bees important insurance runs.
It got interesting in the top of the ninth. Jordan Martinez, who cruised through the eighth, gave up an opening double. A single made it first and third. Burlington shortstop Jaden Hackbarth booted a double play ball that led to a run, and put runners on first and second. Another single drove in another unearned run, making it a one run game. Martinez induced line drive for out number two, then struck out the final dragons batter swinging.
Matthew Dinae's (2-0) three and a third innings of relief earned him a win. Martine held on for his first save.
Both teams return to Community Field Friday night for a 6:30 PM start.