Brockmeyer hits for cycle in Cougars' win

BELOIT, Wis. - When Cael Brockmeyer sent a flyball to right-center, the main focus was if the ball was going to be caught or not. The idea of the Cougars catcher completing a cycle was an afterthought, but it turned out to be the highlight and difference in the game.

Brockmeyer's 2-run homer gave the Cougars (8-2, 53-27) a 9-7 victory over the Beloit Snappers (2-8, 32-48) Sunday at Pohlman Field.

Despite having three leads, the Cougars entered the ninth tied at 7-7. Yasiel Balaguert hit a one-out single to represent the go-ahead run before Jacob Rogers' walk pushed him into scoring position.

Balaguert was replaced by Shawon Dunston Jr. at second base before Brockmeyer came to the plate. On Tyler Vail's first offering, Brockmeyer drove the pitch to deep right-center. With the ball hanging in the air so long, Dunston and Rogers weren't sure whether to start running or hold their tags.

Once the ball dropped on the warning track, Rogers was just a few feet behind Dunston as the duo scored within a few short moments of each other. Brockmeyer reached third base on the belted ball and became the first Cougar to complete the cycle since Tommy Everdige in June 2005.

Beloit battled back to tie the game three times prior, but not in the ninth as Tyler Bremer pitched a scoreless inning for his 10th save.

The Cougars' offense contributed throughout the game, despite seeing two 3-run leads erased. After a 3-run second, Phil Pohl evened the score with a 3-run homer in the second.

Brockmeyer gave the Cougars another lead with a 2-run homer in the third, and Jacob Hannemann added a solo shot in top of the fourth.

Beloit connected on 3 consecutive doubles in the fourth and finished another tie in the fifth on Matt Chapman's solo home run.

Both teams didn't take full advantage of bases-loaded situations. Michael Wagner struck out Tyler Marincov with the bags packed in the seventh. The Cougars had the bases loaded in the eighth with nobody out, but only gained a run on Hannemann's fielder's choice. The 7-6 advantage was short-lived as the Snappers tied the game in the eighth.

Corbin Hoffner (2-1) picked up the win despite blowing a save with 1ne run in 1 inning pitched. Vail (3-2) suffered the loss.

The Cougars go for the four-game sweep Monday with a 7 p.m. first pitch from Pohlman Field. Paul Blackburn (6-2, 2.97) resets the Cougars' rotation against the Snappers' Junior Mendez (2-3, 4.47).