'Shrimp Open Series With 7-3 Win Over LumberKings

FROM CLINTON:

PERU, Ill. - The Clinton LumberKings went back on the road on Wednesday to start a stretch of games against the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp.

Early on the LumberKings could not muster any offense. Illinois Valley kept Clinton out of the hit column through the first five frames behind the arms of Noah Shultz (Vanderbilt) and Kevin Davis (University of South Carolina Upstate).  

Illinois Valley shortstop Zach Lane (Ball State) was the difference through the first five innings. The shortstop hit a solo home run off of LumberKings' starter Seth Clausen (University of Minnesota) in the first to make it 1-0 and later a grand slam in the fifth inning to help propel the Pistol Shrimp to a 6-0 advantage. 

Clinton broke into both the hit and run columns in the sixth. Matt Scherrman (UW-Oshkosh) led off the inning with a double and later scored on a passed ball.

After Illinois Valley responded in the bottom half of the sixth inning with a run of their own, the LumberKings tallied two more in the seventh. Casey Sole (Mount Mercy University) doubled and drove in Chase Becker (University of Minnesota) and then later scored on an error. It wasn't enough however as Clinton lost to Illinois Valley 7-3.

A highlight of the night was Cole Conner (Oakton CC). In relief, the right hander was sharp going 3.2 innings, striking out seven Pistol Shrimp batters and allowing just one earned run.

The LumberKings now look forward to tomorrow, as they take on the Pistol Shrimp once again in Peru, Ill. 

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.