Clinton Lumber Kings

Normal, IL - The Clinton LumberKings (0-2) scored four times in the top of the sixth to even the game, but the Normal CornBelters (1-1) responded with seven runs in the bottom of the inning en route to a 13-6 win at the Corn Crib May 27.

The first five and a half innings saw a ferocious back and forth between the two divisional foes. 

Normal took a quick lead in the bottom of the first on a fielding error and Tyler Thompson RBI single.

Clinton scored its first runs of the season in the top of the second, powered by consecutive doubles from Drake Obermueller (DMACC) and Sutton Lewis (University of Louisiana-Monroe). 

Lewis scored on an error from the right fielder, after tagging up on a Jackson Mishler (Black Hawk College) fly out.

Normal scored four runs between the fourth and fifth innings, before the LumberKings tied it up in top of the sixth.

A string of three CornBelters infielding errors in a row scored Gavin Awbrey (SCC) and put two on. Mishler picked up his first RBI of the season on a groundout to bring Obermueller home.

Brody Shinkle (Creighton) followed by driving a ball to the left centerfield gap, resulting in a RBI triple

The CornBelters did not back down, scoring seven times on five hits in the bottom of the inning. 

Clinton could not manufacture a comeback, with the Normal arms tossing three consecutive scoreless innings. 

Cooper Hathaway (Highland CC) was charged with the loss. Gavin McCullough (McLellan CC) shined, tossing a scoreless 2.1 innings for the LumberKings.

Lewis, Obermueller and Isaac Sobieszczyk (Missouri Western State) all finished with multiple hits. 

The two teams face off again tomorrow at the Corn Crib, with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m..