Clinton Lumber Kings

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Clinton LumberKings (5-4) couldn't overcome an early deficit in Game 1 but bounced back with a sharp 3-0 shutout win in game two to salvage a split against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes (5-4) on Thursday at Robin Roberts Stadium.

In the opener, Springfield jumped out early and held control throughout a 7-2 victory. The Horseshoes plated two runs in each of the first and second innings off Clinton starter Jaqson Tejada (1-1), including a solo home run from Roman Sienza and an RBI single from Jarrett Chapman.

Tejada (1-1) worked two innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits.

Springfield added another run in the third on a passed ball and tacked on two more unearned runs in the 4th to stretch the lead to 7-2.

Clinton made its only offensive push in the fourth, when Joey Hagen was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to plate Drew Terpins, and Jaylen Ziegler followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in James Hackett.

That was all the LumberKings could muster against a Springfield bullpen that combined for four scoreless innings. Rick Williams (1-0) earned the win, tossing three shutout frames to open the game.

The nightcap belonged to Clinton's pitching staff, which delivered a six-hit shutout in a 3-0 win to close out the twin bill. This is their third shutout victory of the season. 

JC Dermody (1-0) was sharp across 4.1 scoreless innings, scattering five hits and striking out four. Cole Bormann bridged the game with 1.2 shutout frames before Camden Clewett (1) closed the door in the seventh to earn his first save.

The LumberKings struck quickly in the first when Sam Wiese delivered an RBI single to left to score Brayden Mulkey. Wiese continued his strong night with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate.

Jamie Rasmussen added an RBI single in the fourth, and Mulkey grounded out to drive in an insurance run in the seventh as Clinton capitalized on a Springfield throwing error to make it 3-0.

The LumberKings pounded out 10 hits in the Game 2 win and turned a key double play to help preserve the shutout.

The LumberKings head to Burlington to play two games over the weekend during their first trip to Community Field for the 2025 season. The Bees hold first place in the Northwest Division with a 6-2 record. Both games on Friday and Saturday are slated for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch. Fans can go to prospectleaguenetwork.com to watch or listen for free on wcciradio.com or on 100.3 WCCI-FM on the radio.