Vogelbach’s RBI hit in 10th rallies Cougars

Kane County blew a 3-run lead in the ninth inning, but Dan Vogelbach delivered a walk-off RBI single to center as the Cougars beat the Bowling Green Hot Rods 5-4 in 10 innings Wednesday at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva.

With the game tied at 4-4, Pin-Chieh Chen of the Cougars (10-13) led off with a double. Gioskar Amaya bunted Chen to third before Vogelbach’s game-winning single.

Cougars reliever and eventual winner Jeff Antigua (2-1) got out of a jam in the eighth inning, stranding the tying runner at the plate before blowing the save in the top of the ninth. Antigua allowed 5 hits, all singles, in the 3-run ninth. With one out, and the bases loaded, Leonardo Reginatto blooped an RBI single into right field. With the bases still loaded, Joey Rickard flared a hit into left center that drove home 2 runs to tie the game at 4-4. Antigua tossed a perfect 10th inning to pick up the victory.

Peirce Johnson started for the Cougars and threw a career-high 6 innings. The first hit he allowed was a swinging bunt that dribbled down the third base line with one out in the fourth inning. Johnson struck out four, alllowing 4 hits and 1 run. He was knocked out of the game with two-outs in the seventh when Ryan Dunn roped an RBI triple to right center.

For the Cougars, Jeimer Candelario had an RBI single and Rock Shoulders added an RBI double.