Cousino's walk-off sac fly gets Clinton a home win

Clinton, IA - Austin Cousino delivered Clinton its first home win vs. the Eastern Division, as Wednesday night's game ended on an 11^th inning walk-off sacrifice fly. The LumberKings (10-35, 36-78) rallied from an early 3-0 deficit, saw the Lansing Lugnuts (24-21, 66-49) come back from a two-run deficit, but leveled the series as Cousino's fly ball to right field plated Wayne Taylor and gave Clinton a 6-5 win.

Despite three earned runs in the first two innings, Tyler Herb (ND) settled down and made it through five full frames. For the second straight night, Lansing scored two batters into the game, as Richard Urena's RBI single made it 1-0. D.J. Davis' RBI double followed in the frame, while Christian Vazquez made it 3-0 with an RBI fielder's choice groundout in the second inning.

Clinton answered immediately and cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the second inning. Joe DeCarlo tallied his third hit of the series with an RBI single, and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Martin Peguero. Lansing starter Jon Wandling (ND) matched Medina with five innings pitched, but allowed five earned runs in his Midwest League debut.

The LumberKings took their first lead of the series with a three-run fifth inning off of Wandling. A pair of walks, a wild pitch, and an RBI single by both Burt Reynolds and Pat Leyland made it 5-3 Clinton.

Osmer Morales gave up an unearned run in the seventh, and Jeffeson Medina blew the save on a bases loaded wild pitch in the ninth inning. Medina walked four and gave up two hits over three innings, but stranded five men in the outing.

After three shutout innings by righty Dusty Isaacs, Tim Mayza (L, 1-1) stranded a Clinton runner in both the ninth and the 10^th inning. After a scoreless top of the 11^th by Kody Kerski (W, 4-3), James Alfonso led off the bottom of the frame with a single. Wayne Taylor pinch ran for Alfonso and moved to second base on a passed ball. Peguero's infield bunt single moved Taylor to third base, and Cousino ended the game with a sacrifice fly to right field that plated Taylor.

In search of their first series win of the second half, Clinton will send Jarrett Brown (1-6, 4.39) to the mound in the series finale. Lansing is set to counter with Tom Robson (0-0, 1.17). The righty for the Lugnuts has allowed just one earned run over his first two starts. First pitch Thursday night is at 6:30 CT. The LumberKings broadcast can be heard on WCCI 100.3 FM, WCCIRadio.com, and LumberKings.com.