Kane County Cougars complete epic comeback against LumberKings

In the largest comeback win of the season, the Kane County Cougars (31-35) scored 7 unanswered runs to defeat the Clinton LumberKings (37-29) 7-6 at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark on Thursday. The Cougars now have 8 comeback wins in 2016.

With the go-ahead RBI base hit in the eighth, Zach Nehrir collected his third hit of the game and his second RBI to give the Cougars their first lead.

Clinton owned the first half of the game and it was a tough outing for Justin Donatella (5-4). He had few answers for the LumberKings offense and top prospect Alex Jackson. Batting cleanup, Jackson put Clinton ahead in the first inning with a 2-run home run.

Jackson collected another RBI with a base hit that scored leadoff hitter, Braden Bishop. The LumberKings scored 3 in fifth inning, capped by another RBI base hit for Jackson who had four in the game.

But the Cougars started their comeback in the fifth, touching up Wells with a pair of runs. Jose Queliz and Zach Nehrir had RBI base hits as the Cougars had 4 total hits in the frame against Nick Wells. Making it four unanswered runs, the Cougars also touched up Clinton reliever Spencer Herrmann (0-0). The Cougars started the sixth with a base hit and polished off the inning with an RBI base hit for Gerard Hernandez.

Hernandez and Nehrir stepped up in the eighth to lead the comeback win. Hernandez hit a 2-run home run, his third hit of the day to tie the game at 6-6. And with two outs, Nehrir blooped the go-ahead hit and the Cougars held on in the ninth for a 7-6 win.

Cody Clark (3-0) got the win in relief, Ronald Dominguez (0-1) took the blown save and loss, as Drew Muren earned the save, his third of the season.

The Cougars play a doubleheader Friday against the LumberKings. Game 1 starts at 4:30 p.m. and pits Clinton right-hander Zack Littell (5-4) against the Cougars' lefty Alex Young (1-0). In Game 2, Clinton starts right-hander Pablo Lopez (2-0). The Cougars have not named yet their Game 2 starter.