Burlington Bees bats fall short, as team drops rubber match

Burlington, IA - In spite of four Burlington bullpen arms combining to allow no earned runs over six innings, the Bees (2-5) dropped their second straight to the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp (6-3) 6-3 at home June 6.

A three run homerun in the fifth inning blew the game open, putting the Pistol Shrimp up 6-2. They never looked back. The Bees combined for four total hits and three errors.

Burlington native Jacob Zahner (Southeastern CC) started, pitching three innings and allowing five hits and one earned run.

Bobby Helt (Lake Erie College) pitched two innings, giving up no earned runs and recording three strikeouts. The three-run home run was hit off him, but the runs were unearned due to an error earlier in the inning.

Jack Duncan (Western Illinois) pitched two innings of one-hit, no-run ball next. Eric Kiewiet (Mt. Mercy University) and Jacob Sjuts (Des Moines Area CC) finished the bullpen effort with an inning of shutout ball each.

Reese Moore (University of Iowa) led the Bees' bats with two hits and an RBI. He now has four hits in his last two games.

Anthony Solis of Illinois Valley made the start. He was the last pitcher in these teams' matchup June 2 and started this game with a masterful six innings just four days later. He finished with six strikeouts, four hits allowed, and gave up no earned runs.

Burlington continues its four-game homestand tomorrow, facing the Jackson Rockabillys (6-2), who have won three of their last four, at 6:30 p.m. The game is "The Office" Olympics Night at Community Field.