Clutch double play key for Cougars

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A bases-loaded threat in the top of the ninth inning was thwarted by the Kane County Cougars as they hung on for a 2-1 victory over the South Bend Silver Hawks on Friday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva.

Consecutive singles put men on base to begin the top of the ninth against Cougars reliever Rudy Brown, who was then lifted in favor of Malcom Culver.

Culver struck out Matt Helm for the first out before hitting Kerry Jenkins to load the bases. Culver then induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat and preserve a Cougars victory.

Angel Baez (5-2) got the victory after striking out a season-high 10 batters in 6-plus innings.

Baez yielded 2 hits and 1 unearned run. He left the game with no outs in the seventh and a man on first. Culver got his fourth save of the season.

South Bend (46-45) picked up its run in the fourth when Eric Groff produced a two-out RBI double.

The Cougars (46-45) took the lead in the fourth on RBI singles from Jack Lopez and Michael Antonio.

The Cougars host the West Michigan Whitecaps at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.