Bees Swept by Clinton

Clinton, IA – A pivotal doubleheader awaited the Burlington Bees (4-6, 15-20) and Clinton Elotes (7-2, 21-12). A late comeback allowed Clinton to steal game one 6-5, and a dominant pitching performance led them to a 4-0 game two win at NelsonCorp Field on July 5. 

Game 1

Two-run home runs by Juan Fernandez (SCC) and Rowen Bergeron (LSU-Eunice) gave Burlington a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning. It was Fernandez's second home run in as many days and Bergeron's team leading seventh long ball of the season. Clinton would get one back in the bottom of the inning and the score remained that way until the sixth when Troy Peltz (Iowa Western) hit a solo home run down the right field line to push the lead back to four. Braden Vanderheydt (Illinois Central) pitched into the sixth inning, going 5 2/3 frames while allowing three runs. Zach Troxel (Indiana Wesleyan) came in and stranded a runner on third with a strikeout. In the bottom of the seventh, control continued to cost Bees pitching as after a fly out, a single, and a line out, an Elote was hit by a pitch before four consecutive batters were walked to end the game. 

Game 2

Three Clinton pitchers combined to shut out Burlington. The Elotes scored one run in the first and three in the second, before four Bees pitchers combined to toss four scoreless innings. Burlington's offense struggled with runners on base, leaving 10 guys on. Fernandez highlighted the offense in game two, reaching all four times with two hits. The Bees drop their fourth consecutive game to Clinton as they fall to fourth place in the Northwest Division heading into the all-star break. Jake Weissenberger (Mount Mercy), Riley Fuller (Evangel), and Lucas Krebs (Illinois) will participate in the 2026 Prospect League All-Star Game at 6:05 pm CDT at Loeb Stadium in Lafayette, Indiana. Burlington returns to action on Thursday, taking on the Normal CornBelters in a 5:00 pm doubleheader at the Corn Crib.