The Decatur Bean Ballers were just three outs away from securing a road victory Tuesday night before the Normal CornBelters rallied in the bottom of the ninth to escape with a 4-3 win.
After trailing for much of the evening, Decatur put together a clutch eighth inning to take its first lead of the game, but the CornBelters answered with a walk-off rally in their final at-bat.
Normal struck first in the opening inning when Jackson Stanek lined an RBI double down the right-field line, scoring Tyler Thompson to give the CornBelters a 1-0 advantage.
From there, Bean Ballers starter Luke Bonnstetter settled into a groove. The right-hander allowed just one run over four innings while limiting Normal’s offense and giving Decatur an opportunity to battle back.
Charlie Linderman followed with four solid innings of relief, surrendering just one run while keeping the Bean Ballers within striking distance heading into the late innings.
The CornBelters extended their lead to 2-0 in the seventh when Jake Greer delivered an RBI single to left-center field, scoring Filippo Baratta.
Facing a two-run deficit entering the eighth, Decatur’s offense finally came alive.
Carder Reich and Trevor Geis reached base to set the table for Brandon Abernathy, who ripped a two-run double into left-center field, tying the game at 2-2. Moments later, Misael Maldonado came through with another clutch hit, lining an RBI single through the left side to score Abernathy and give the Bean Ballers their first lead of the night at 3-2.
The momentum, however, was short-lived.
Normal mounted one final rally in the bottom of the ninth against the Decatur bullpen. After putting runners aboard, Charlie Vercruysse delivered the decisive blow, lining a two-run single to left field that scored Dylan Coty and Filippo Baratta, completing the CornBelters’ walk-off comeback and handing Decatur a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat.
Despite the loss, the Bean Ballers received strong performances throughout the lineup.
Abernathy led the offense by going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Maldonado added an RBI single, while Trevor Geis and Carder Reich each scored a run during Decatur’s eighth-inning rally. Jackson Miller and Oneill Feliz also contributed hits as the Bean Ballers finished the night with seven hits.
On the mound, Bonnstetter and Linderman combined to allow just two runs through the first eight innings while scattering nine hits. Linderman was particularly effective in relief, throwing four innings and allowing just one run. Gavin Houchins was charged with the loss after the CornBelters’ game-winning rally in the ninth, while Kaden Davis recorded the final out.
Normal finished with 12 hits, but Decatur’s pitching staff consistently worked out of trouble until the final inning.
Although the Bean Ballers came up one run short, their resilience was on full display after erasing a late two-run deficit. A clutch eighth-inning comeback briefly put Decatur in position for a victory before the CornBelters answered with a dramatic walk-off finish in the bottom of the ninth.
#16 Brandon Abernathy with the 2-RBI Double to Centerfield to Tie the Game
#7 Charlie Linderman makes the Throw to #25 Jackson Snitko to Pick the Runner off at 1st
#26 Misael Maldonado with the RBI Double to put Decatur in the Lead in the Bottom of the 8th
#30 Caleb Crider secures the Grounder and Throw to #25 Jackson Snitko for the Out
#28 Carder Reich with the Broken Bat Blooper to Right Field for the Single
#34 Oneill Feliz makes the Tag at Home to secure the Out and prevent a Run