CornBelters Stun LumberKings with Five-Run Ninth, Win 8-7
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Normal CornBelters | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 0 |
|
Clinton LumberKings | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 1 |
CLINTON, Iowa — The Normal CornBelters (7-12) scored five times in the top of the ninth to erase a four-run deficit and shock the Clinton LumberKings (13-6), 8-7, on Wednesday night at NelsonCorp Field.
The LumberKings struck first in the bottom of the 1st, when Jalen Martinez doubled to center field, driving in Sam Wiese and Venteicher for a quick 2-0 lead. After Normal tied the game in the 2nd on Tyler Thompson's two-run single, Clinton responded in the home half as Austin Mallee roped a two-run single to right, scoring Jamie Rasmussen and Drew Terpins to make it 4-2.
Caleb Royer pulled Normal within a run in the 3rd with a solo homer to right, but Clinton answered in the 4th when Venteicher singled home Terpins. Venteicher padded the lead in the 6th with a towering two-run shot to left, scoring Jaylen Ziegler and giving the Kings a 7-3 advantage behind a red-hot Nick Venteicher, who went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, three RBIs, two runs scored, and a stolen base.
Trailing 7-3, Normal staged a dramatic rally against the LumberKings' bullpen. Braden Vanderheydt opened the scoring in the ninth with a pinch-hit RBI double to left, cutting the lead to 7-4. Nolan McCrossin followed with a two-run double to right, bringing the CornBelters within a run. Moments later, Jack Novak delivered the knockout punch—a two-run single to center to plate the tying and go-ahead runs.
Jaqson Tejada allowed three runs across five innings in a no-decision for Clinton, while Jackson Horras provided three strong frames of relief. Camden Clewett (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing all five runs in the 9th.
Zach O'Donnell (1-0) earned the win out of the bullpen, and Owen Corbett secured his first save with a clean ninth inning. Thompson led Normal with a 3-for-5 night, while McCrossin and Novak each had two RBIs in the final frame.
The LumberKings will host the Burlington Bees for a two-game weekend series from Thursday to Friday, with both games starting at 6:30 p.m. The LumberKings' magic number is 5.
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