4/15, Beloit 4, Cougars 5

The Cougars came from behind with three runs in the ninth to beat the Beloit Snappers 5-4. The win gives the Cougars a 5-3 record on the year, and a series win in the series against the Snappers.

In the ninth inning Snapper reliever Matt Tone was in his second inning of relief, he had struck out the side in the eighth. All of a sudden he could not find the plate. He would walk both Mike Gilmartin and Tyreace House to lead off the inning. Nino Leyja, tried to put down a sacrifice bunt, but would hit into a fielder's choice, He hit it to close to the mound, and Tone got the ball and threw to third to get Gilmartin for the first out of the inning. Connor Crumbliss then walked, to reload the bases for the Cougars. Beloit then made a pitching change. Kane Holbrooks came in and on his second pitch, Myrio Richard hit a double to the wall in left center. House and Leyja would score. Crumbliss came around third, and the shortstop bobbled the ball, trying to throw it home. Crumbliss would be safe and the Cougars would win.

The Cougars only scored in one more inning of the game, in the sixth inning they scored their other two runs. Crumbliss led off with a walk. Richard then doubled to the wall in center. Kent Walton would hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Crumbliss. Chris Affinito then walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Max Stassi came through with a double to the left center field wall to score Richard. After that the Snappers made a pitching change, and Edgar Ibarra would walk Anthony Allotti, then strike out the next two hitters to get out of the inning.

Beloit started the scoring in the second inning off of Cougar starter Dan Straily. Michael Gonzales hit his second homer of the series, this one over the right field deck. In the sixth inning the Snappers would strike again with another run. With one out, Danny Rams doubled down the left field line, he would get to third on a wild pitch. One out later, Angel Morales doubled off of the left center field wall to score Rams.

The other runs that the Snappers would get one would come in the seventh, off of reliever Connor Hoehn. With two outs, Brian Dozier blooped a single to left. A throwing error on a pick off attempt would put Dozier on third. Derek McCallum then singled down the left field line to drive in Dozier. In the eighth innin the Snappers would score their last run of the game. Steven Liddle led off with a single to center. A strike out later, he would steal second. One more out later, Anderson Hidalgo singled to right center to score Liddle, this would put the Snappers up 4-2.

Snappers starter Miguel Munoz pitched well, he was wild but pitched well. He went into the sixth inning, giving up five hits and two runs. His main problem was he gave up five walks, but he also struck out three. He did get three double plays in the game, two of which would end innings. For the Cougars, Dan Straily started, and also lasted into the sixth inning. He would give up six hits and two runs. he walked one and struck out two. He threw two wild pitches.

Kane County had more chances to score in the game. In the fifth inning, Aliotti led off with a walk. Gilmartin then hit one back to the mound that would turn into a double play. In the seventh inning with two outs, Richard tripled just past the reach of the right fielder. Walton would then strike out to end the inning.

The Cougars gave Beloit a ton of chances in the game. In the third inning with two outs, Dozier and McCallum both singled. Straily would then be able to get Danny Rams to fly to center. In the fourth inning, Liddle led off with a walk, then stole second. Morales and Gonzales both hit liners to center for the first two outs. Hidalgo grounded out to end the inning.


Tomorrow vs Beloit, 6:30
Brad Stallings (0-1, 1.80) vs Chris Mederoa (1-0, 0.00)


Notes-In the fourth inning, the ground out by Hidalgo was after an adventurous foul ball. He poped it up foul near the third base dugout. The ball carried, near the top step. The batboy tried to get out of the way but couldn't get out of the way of the players. The ball would eventually hit him in the helmet, and almost cost the Cougars. The on deck hitter, Reggie Williams gave the kid a high five for helping them.