Cougars pick up two wins Tuesday

After losing their home opener Tuesday, the Kane County Cougars bounced back Wednesday, sweeping a doubleheader against the Burlington Bees in front of 5,669 at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva.

The Cougars used a pair of big offensive innings to grab a 7-4 victory in Game 1, and a 6-1 win in Game 2.

Jason Christian led the way with a grand slam in the fifth inning of Game 2, and Ben Hornbeck and Scott Deal combined on a one-hitter.

In the first game, the Cougars fell behind 4-0 before scoring four times in the fourth. Franklin Hernandez scored on an error, Dusty Coleman tripled home Grant Desme, Juan Nunez singled in Coleman and David Thomas grounded out to plate Nunez for a 4-4 game. Then in the fifth, Mitch LeVier's sacrifice fly gave the Cougars a 5-4 advantage, and Nunez and Matt Ray each drove in a run in the sixth to round out the scoring. Josue Selenis (2-0) notched the win, and Jamie Richmond posted his first career save.

In the second game, Hornbeck (1-0), making a spot start because of the doubleheader, pitched five innings and didn't allow a hit or a walk while fanning six. The Bees got their only run in the third after two errors, a stolen base and a wild pitch.

Deal handled the next two innings, and a leadoff single in the seventh was the Bees' only hit. Meanwhile the offense scored all six of its runs in the fifth. Christian connected for a grand slam, the team's first homer of the year, and a Burlington error and balk led to two more runs for what became a 6-1 final.

The Cougars (4-2) continue their seven-game homestand Thursday night at 6 p.m. when they host the Cedar Rapids Kernels in the start of a four-game set.

Matt Fitts (0-1, 5.40) will face Manuarys Correa (0-0, 6.75).