Clinton Lumber Kings

QUINCY, Ill. — The Clinton LumberKings split a doubleheader Tuesday at QU Stadium, falling 8-7 in the opener — a game suspended July 11 due to weather and resumed Tuesday — before rallying for a franchise-record 17-13 comeback victory in the nightcap against the Quincy Doggy Paddlers.

The first game was suspended after the top of the fourth inning on July 11 with Quincy leading 5-0 and resumed Tuesday at the top of the fifth.

Quincy scored five runs in the first inning before the suspension, capped by Jack Linenfelser's RBI single that gave the Doggy Paddlers a 5-0 lead. Brady Kindhart added a sacrifice fly in the first inning and later hit a two-run homer in the sixth to help Quincy maintain the lead.

After play resumed, Clinton rallied with four runs in the third inning. Max Burt doubled in two runs, Brett White drove in one, and James Hackett added an RBI single. Clinton took a 6-5 lead.

With the game resuming today, Quincy responded with a two-run double by Linenfelser in the fifth inning to regain the lead at 7-6, then added an insurance run on Kindhart's homer in the sixth.

Despite loading the bases with two outs in the seventh, Clinton could not complete the comeback.

Tyler Welch started for Clinton, pitching four innings, allowing five runs on five hits, walking four and striking out three, and throwing one wild pitch. Jaqson Tejada relieved, giving up three runs on four hits with three strikeouts over two innings and was charged with the loss.

Patrick Wajda started for Quincy, pitching four innings, allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts, and threw one wild pitch. Preston Kaufman relieved and threw three scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

Brett White led Clinton with two hits, one RBI and one run scored. Max Burt drove in three runs with two hits. Linenfelser finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs for Quincy.

In the nightcap, Quincy opened with a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Byron Blaise in the first. Quincy exploded for six runs in the fourth inning, including RBI singles by Wandel Campana and General Schofield, plus runs scored on wild pitches and errors, to take a commanding 9-0 lead.

Clinton began chipping away in the fifth with two RBIs from Brayden Mulkey and an RBI groundout from Drew Terpins. Quincy added two runs in the bottom of the fifth, extending the lead to 11-4.

The LumberKings' comeback exploded in the seventh inning with 11 runs. Cougar Cooke doubled in two runs, and Brett White, Brytton Clements and Blake Timmons each had RBI singles. Bases-loaded walks and wild pitches contributed to the rally. Clements capped the inning with an RBI single, putting Clinton ahead 17-11.

Kindhart hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, but Quincy's rally fell short.

Brayden Mulkey finished 2-for-2 with four RBIs. Drew Phillips and Bryk Barnard scored multiple runs in the comeback.

Payton Hodges started for Clinton and allowed six runs on 10 hits with one walk and one strikeout over 3 1/3 innings. Jay Kennedy relieved and gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning, walking two and striking out one. Camden Clewett earned the win with two innings of two-run relief and two strikeouts. Cole Connor closed the game with one scoreless inning.

Jason Schmierer took the loss for Quincy, allowing six runs on eight hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in six innings. The bullpen gave up nine runs, with Ethan Gamez, Carson Selk, and Carter Jones combining for the damage.

The nine-run comeback broke the previous record of five against the Danville Dans on July 28, 2022 in Danville, Illinois where the LumberKings would win 8-6. 

The LumberKings return to Quincy for their final game at QU Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. Fans can watch the game live on www.prospectleaguenetwork.com or listen for free at www.wcciradio.com or tune on to 100.3 WCCI-FM.