Snappers keep Cougars' playoff hopes on hold

For the fourth time in eight meetings, the Kane County Cougars (38-18, 74-50) and the Beloit Snappers (24-31, 50-75) went into extras innings as the Snappers walked off in the bottom of the 10th with a 3-2 victory from Pohlman Field.

Scoring wasn't a factor in Monday's game until the sixth inning. After Ethan Elias and Daniell Gossett each tossed 5 shutout innings, the Cougars grabbed the first run of the game as Victor Reyes' fielder's choice turned into an error by Gossett that scored Michael Perez. Quinnton Mack also moved to third on the play and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Ildemaro Vargas.

Beloit quickly answered scoring an unearned run of their own in the bottom of the sixth. After Elias hit Tim Proudfoot with a pitch, the Snappers loaded the bases on back-to-back errors by Joe Munoz. Jose Brizuela legged out a fielder's choice to score Proudfoot and cut the Cougar lead in half 2-1.

Two innings later, Beloit tied the game as another free pass came back to haunt the Cougars. Justin Higley walked and stole second to eventually come home on Max Kuhn's RBI single.

The Cougars stranded two runners on in the ninth, but kept Beloit without a run which brought the game into extras.

Koby Gauna (3-2) tossed a perfect top of the tenth after escaping the ninth inning jam.

With Jose Martinez (0-1) on the mound, Max Kuhn doubled with one out for the potential winning run on the bases. After a Martinez wild pitch, Argenis Raga singled home Kuhn for the game winning run and a 3-2 Snappers' win.

The Cougars can clinch a playoff spot with a win against Beloit on Tuesday. First pitch from Pohlman Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.