Walk-Off Gives Burlington First Consecutive Victories

Burlington, IA - Burlington native Jace Figuereo (Southeastern Community College) was struck by a pitch to score the game-winning run, as the Burlington Bees (10-27, 4-4) walked off the Thrillville Thrillbillies (22-13, 1-7) 5-4 July 11 at Community Field.

It was Burlington's first back to back victories and first time at .500 this season since being 1-1 in the first half.

Joe Evans (Morton College) picked up the win in his final appearance as a Bee. He went three innings with no earned runs. The lefty finishes his 2024 effort with 32.2 innings, the most by a Burlington reliever, and an ERA of 3.58.

The start was just as magical as Evans' performance. Jacob Sjuts (Des Moines Area CC) allowed two earned runs over six innings and five strikeouts. He finished with three consecutive no hit, no run innings.

The big righty has gone five or more innings in each of his last three starts.

Thrillville scored the first three runs of the games over the same amount of innings. Burlington got on the board in the bottom of the third.

Figuereo got on base via an error. He moved to scoring position on a groundout from Cedric Dunnwald (Mt. Mercy University).

With two outs, Jeremy Figueroa (Mt.Mercy University) doubled to make it 3-1 and get his first Bees RBI.

The score remained 3-1 until the seventh. Thrillville's starter, J.Henry Hobson, was efficient. He went six innings with no earned runs and three strikeouts.

Once the Thrillbillies went to the pen, the Bees put their foot on the gas. Kinnick Pusteoska (Tennessee Tech) walked and Jackson Reid (Chandler-Gilbert CC) was hit by a pitch to get the tying runs aboard.

Nick Meyer (Mt.Mercy University) delivered the hit the team needed. He smashed a double to score the runners and tie the game. Meyer now has 13 RBI's on the year.

Thrillville regained the lead in the eighth. The advantage was short lived as Dunnwald smashed his first homer of the year over the left field wall to knot the team's at four to lead off the bottom of the inning,

This was his first homer of the year, with Mt.Mercy players accounting for the first four Bees RBI's.

Evans celebrated on his way back to the dugout after stranding a runner in the ninth, giving Burlington momentum in the bottom of the inning. Pusteoska singled to start off the inning. Reid and Meyer followed with walks to load the bases.

Figuereo was hit by a pitch that scored Pusteoska to hand the Bees their third walk-off victory. Despite being outhit six to eight, Burlington grinded out the victory.

Thrillbillies reliever Victor Tyo received the loss in his debut with the team.

Burlington begins a four-game road trip July 11, taking on the Alton River Dragons at 6:35 p.m. The game will take place at SIU Edwardsville's Roy E. Lee Field, as the Bees attempt to go over .500 for the first time this year.