By JOHN BOHNENKAMP
The Burlington Bees were back at Community Field for a day game after a night in which they rallied for a win.
The momentum, though, didn’t come with them.
The O’Fallon Hoots struck for nine runs in the first three innings on the way to an 11-2 win over the Bees in Sunday’s Prospect League game.
The Bees (7-13) came back from an early 6-1 deficit to defeat Illinois Valley 8-7 in 10 innings on Saturday night.
But they quickly fell behind in this game, with a deep deficit that was much too difficult to overcome.
The Hoots (11-9) scored three runs in each of the first three innings, swatting 11 hits off Bees starting pitcher Cauy Massner (0-4), who lasted just 2 2/3 innings.
“It wasn’t our day, especially in the first three innings,” Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said.
Massner’s struggles left the Bees’ bullpen with a lot of innings to cover, but Chase Golden, Preston Kaufman and Bobby Helt filled their roles.
Golden gave up two unearned runs and two hits in 2 1/3 innings. Kaufman pitched a scoreless sixth inning, then Helt allowed one hit and struck out four in the final three innings.
“Chase did a phenomenal job — if a popup gets caught he doesn’t give up those two runs,” Oreskovich said. “Our bullpen essentially threw up zeros over the last six innings. They did a phenomenal job.
“I don’t want these guys to look at the score when they’re coming in. I’m bringing them in so it stays where it is. I tell all of these guys, I don’t want any more (runs), and that’s what I expect out of them coming out of the bullpen. You’re coming in to keep it where it is. We can’t go back and subtract runs. We need to keep it where it is.”
Tanner Holland drove in both of the Bees’ runs with an RBI single in the second inning and a solo home run in the fifth.
That was all the Bees could do against O’Fallon starting pitcher Matt Haley (1-2), who allowed five hits in seven innings.
The Hoots had 15 hits, including four from leadoff hitter Braedon Stokes.
ON DECK: The two teams play again at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Community Field. Aiden McGee (1-1, 6.23 ERA) will start for the Bees against O’Fallon’s Barrett Lohman (1-0, 2.45).
NOTES: Bees right fielder Coy Sarsfeld extended his hitting streak to three games with a seventh-inning single. … Bees third baseman Connor Laeng singled in the second inning for his first hit of the season.
Photo: Bees shortstop Cooper Schulte tags out O’Fallon’s Mike O’Connor on a stolen-base attempt in the fourth inning. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
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