Snappers complete sweep of Cougars

BELOIT, Wis. - The Kane County Cougars will probably not fondly remember this trip to Beloit. For the first time this season, the first-place Cougars were swept in a series following the Snappers' 2-1 victory Wednesday night.

The Cougars (26-13) scored their only run in the first. Jake Hannemann walked but was caught stealing at second base, Carlos Penalver walked, eventually reached third and scored on Ben Carhart's groundout.

Cougars starter Juan Paniagua (0-2) kept the Snappers scoreless through the first 3 innings. In the bottom of the fourth, the Snappers' Ryan Huck led off with his third home run of the season that tied the game at 1-1. Back-to-back singles from Ryan Mathews and Luis Baez put runners at the corners and a suicide squeeze by Andy Paz brought in what proved to be the winning run.

Cougars reliever Justin Amlung entered in the fourth and stranded two runners. The Snappers did not get another base runner the rest of the game. Amlung set down all 10 hitters he faced and Tyler Bremer contributed a perfect eighth inning.

The Cougars loaded the bases in the seventh, but hannemann struck out to end the threat.

The Cougars return home for a four-game series against the Quad Cities River Bandits. Today's matchup at 6:30 p.m. features Duane Underwood (0-0, 2.91) against the Bandits' Adrian Houser (1-1, 4.67) at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva.