By RJ Larson

The Burlington Bees took advantage of a sloppy seventh inning by Clinton to earn their fourth win of the season over the LumberKings Friday night 11-5.

Marcos Sanchez began the scoring with a blast to right for his sixth home run of the season to give Burlington a 1-0 lead in the second. Clinton responded in the top of the third with an RBI single from Bryce Dreher to knot things back up at 1-1.

The Bees kept using the home run ball to help them take the lead back. In the fourth, Kevin Santiago hit a no doubter for his sixth home run, on a solo shot to put Burlington ahead 2-1.  A big controversial call completely changed the game in the sixth when Lincoln Riley hit a two-run home run over the left field foul pole. Clinton argued that it was foul, but it stayed a home run. Riley’s second home run of the year gave Burlington a 4-1 lead.

The game looked like it would be a close, until Burlington took advantage of a sloppy seventh to take control of the game. The Bees scored six runs in the inning despite not getting a single hit in the inning. The Bees drew six walks, and had three players hit by a pitch to take a commanding 10-1 lead.

Clinton responded in the eighth with a two run double from Justin Conant to make the score 10-3.  A Bees fielding error allowed two more runs to score, and make it 10-5.  Burlington added another run in the eighth on an RBI double from Rome Wallace to put Burlington back up by six.

Jalen Evans had another great start to earn his second win of the season.  He pitched a season high seven innings, allowed just one run, three hits, three walks, and struck out four. The Bees had three players finish with two RBIs in the game, led by Riley who went 2-4 with the two run home run. Kevin Santiago went 2-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and a walk. Rome Wallace went 1-4 with a double, two RBIs, and a walk.

The Bees will face Clinton again tomorrow night at Community Field at 6:30.