Bees nip Kane County Cougars 2-1

In a close game, the Kane County Cougars (2-5) could not muster enough offense in support of starter Sam McWilliams (0-1), as the Burlington Bees (3-4) first inning runs were enough to hold on for a 2-1 win.

The Cougars still have a chance to win the four-game series in Thursday night's contest against Burlington and advance to 3-1 on the homestand.

Securing their first lead of the series, the Bees' plated 2 quick runs in the first against McWilliams. Jake Yacinich singled through the left side on the first pitch of the ballgame and two batters later, Brendon Sanger tripled to deep right. Sanger scored moments later as Ranyelmy Alberto socked a double.

McWilliams settled down after a rocky first frame. In support, the Cougar offense manufactured a run in the home half of the fourth. With Austin Byler on first, Joe Munoz sliced an opposite field two-bagger as Byler hustled home to cut the deficit in half.

McWilliams totaled 6⅔ innings on 7 hits with just 2 runs allowed.

The Cougars biggest threat came in the sixth frame when they received consecutive base hits from Trevor Mitsui and Byler only to be stranded. In total, the Cougars stranded nine base runners and had at least one runner reach in seven of the nine innings.

Eury Sanchez (1-1) picked up the win for Burlington with two scoreless innings, McWilliams took the loss, and Zach Hartman (10) logged the save.

Thursday's series finale between the Bees and Cougars is at 6:30 p.m., pitting Burlington's right-hander Jose Rodriguez (3-4, 3.38 ERA) against the Cougars' lefty Junior Garcia (3-5, 4.18 ERA).