Cougars take series with win over Snappers

It took 12 games, but the Kane County Cougars (9-4) finally recorded their first home runs of the season in Wednesday afternoon's 5-2 victory over the Beloit Snappers (7-7) at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

The Snappers erased the scoreless tie in the top of the second on an RBI double to take a 1-0 lead, but the Cougars responded as Jason Morozowski launched his first home run of the season to tie the game at 1-1. An RBI single from Raymel Flores gave the Cougars a 2-1 lead heading into the third.

Jose Queliz extended the lead to 2 runs in the bottom of the inning with a single off Beloit starting pitcher Dustin Driver (0-2) that plated Trevor Mitsui. That would be all for Driver as he left the game after giving up 3 runs on 5 hits in 2 and a third. The Cougars capitalized on a Beloit throwing error in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 4-1 game.

Trent Gilbert cut the Cougars lead in half with a home run to left in the top of the fifth, but once again the Cougars responded as Joe Munoz homered to put his team up 5-2 in the bottom half of the inning.

Cougars starting pitcher Carlos Hernandez (2-0) picked up his second victory of the season after going 5 and a third innings while allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits with 6 strikeouts. Keegan Long recorded his fourth save of the season going an inning with 1 strikeout.

The Cougars will turn their attention to the Quad Cities River Bandits who come to town Thursday night for the start of a four game series. Thursday's matchup will feature LHP Matt Bower (0-0) for the River Bandits against RHP Justin Donatella (2-0) for the Cougars. First pitch from Fifth Third Bank Ballpark is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.