Burlington Bees win opener, then settle for split with CornBelters in Prospect League

The Burlington Bees ended their four-game losing streak, yet couldn't start a winning streak at Community Field Tuesday night.

The Bees split a Prospect League doubleheader with the Normal CornBelters. Burlington won the first game, 5-1, but Normal took the nightcap, 8-3.

Two Burlington pitchers allowed just three hits in the first game. Starter and winner Jared Townsend (1-0) gave up one earned run on three hits and four walks in five innings, striking out four. C.J. Lewis relieved the final two innings, keeping Normal hitless. He walked two and fanned one.

"Townsend looked really good out there tonight," Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said. "I thought he looked really well. His curveball was looking better today. He didn't have much of that his first time out (in the season opener), so it was mostly fastball. When a team learns you only have a fastball you're a little easier to hit, but today he had a curveball."

Lewis "did a fantastic job going out there and getting us out of the game with a win," Oreskovich said.

Sam Monroe and Trey Adams led the Bees at the plate in the first game, each with two hits. Both of Monroe's hits were doubles and he and A.J. Henkle each had two RBIs.

The Bees never trailed, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning. Monroe had an RBI-double and Henkle followed with a two-run double. Joey Fitzgerald added an RBI-single. Monroe's RBI-double in the fourth completed the scoring.

In the second game, the Bees managed just four hits.

"You're not going to win when you only get four hits," Oreskovich said. "We did have some chances to score. Ryan Grace with a ball to the wall (for a flyout) with two runners on in the first inning. (Ben) Tallman lines out to the wall (in the fifth inning).

"Sometimes it's just not going your way, but the more ABs these guys get I think we'll be all right," Oreskovich said. "Half the guys were on medical redshirt this (college season) or whatever the deal was, and the catchers only play a half a season because they don't play every game. So, the more ABs they get the better off they'll be.

"Guys started pressing themselves," Oreskovich said, "but just go out there and enjoy it. Nobody likes to lose, but I think we'll be all right going forward."

Monroe, Weston Fulk, Fitzgerald and Dawson Estep each singled for the Bees. Adrian Nery (1-1) started on the mound and was credited with the loss. He gave up six earned runs on eight hits and three walks in four innings. He struck out three. Jaxon Ingram relieved two innings and Tucker Cole pitched the last inning.

Normal tagged the Bees pitchers for 11 hits.

The Bees host the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, then play at doubleheader at O'Fallon Thursday. The Bees return home June 16, hosting the O'Fallon Hoots.

FIRST GAME

Normal. 010. 000. 0 — 1

Bees. 004. 100. x — 5

WP — Jared Townsend (1-0). LP — Clayton Johnson (0-2). Leading hitters — Normal: Jackson Chatterton 1-2, Peyton Meredith 1-3, Cy Kerber 1-2. Burlington: Sam Monroe 2-4, A.J. Henkle 1-3, Weston Fulk 1-3, Joey Fitzgerald 1-3, Trey Adams 2-3, . 2B — Kerber, Monroe 2, Henkle, Fulk. RBI — Normal: Kerber; Burlington: Monroe 2, Henkle 2, Fitzgerald. .

SECOND GAME

Normal. 014. 102. 0 — 8

Bees. 002. 001. 0 — 3

WP — Luke Carlson (1-0). LP — Adrian Nery (1-1). Leading hitters — Normal: Chatterton 2-4, Kyle Bartman 2-4, Jared Comia 1-3, Meredith 2-4, Malik Wirges 2-3, Will Henson 1-3, Wilson Zuck 1-3. Burlington: Monroe 1-1, Fulk 1-3, Fitzgerald 1-1, Dawson Estep 1-3. 2B — Wirges. HR — Henson. RBI — Normal: Comia, Ben Higgins, Meredith 2, Henson 2; Burlington: Monroe, Ryan Grace.

Records: Normal 5-2, Burlington 2-5.

This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Burlington rides strong pitching of Townsend, Lewis to gain split