By RJ Larson:

Have a night Austin Simpson! After a recent rough stretch entering tonight’s game, Simpson bounced back with a monster night.  How about four hits and three RBIs to help the Bees defeat the Clinton LumberKings 12-3.

Simpson drove in his first run in the opening frame on an RBI single to put Burlington ahead 1-0. The Bees found their power in the third with a pair of solo home runs from Ben Nippolt and Jackson Jones. Burlington loaded the bases and Zane Zielinski drove in his 11th RBI on a fielder’s choice for a 4-0 Bees lead.

Clinton got back within two in the fifth after a Bees defensive miscue. Brayden Frazier lined a single to left and wanted to stretch it to a double. Sanchez threw to second but it went past Zielinski, allowing Matt Scherrman to score and Frazier to advance to third. Frazier later scored on a fielder’s choice RBI from Max Holy.

The Bees were more comfortable position after striking for three runs with two outs in the bottom of the third.  Rome Wallace led the scoring off with a solo shot, his third home run of the season, to put Burlington back up by three. After a pair of walks and an error, Austin Simpson came up with the bases loaded.  His two-run single to center to put the Bees up 7-2.

Clinton had a big opportunity to get back in the game in the eighth when they loaded the bases, but Reece Wissinger struck out back to back hitters to get Burlington out of the jam.

Burlington added 3 runs in the sixth, one in the seventh and four in the eighth to blow it open.

Andrew Long gave Burlington a great start on the mound to earn his first win.  Long went a season high 6.1 innings, allowed two earned runs (three total), four hits, a walk, and had four strikeouts.

The Bees will have off tomorrow before hitting the road for a double header vs O’Fallon on Thursday.