Cougars fall to Q-C, 3-1

DAVENPORT, Iowa - The Kane County Cougars scored right away Monday afternoon against the Quad Cities River Bandits but never scored again, falling 3-1 in front of 6,159 fans at Modern Woodmen Park.

Now they need to win Tuesday in the series finale to split the four-game series before opening a six-game home stand Wednesday at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva.

Jason Christian singled in the top of the first, took second on a wild pitch and then came home on a single by Grant Desme. That 1-0 lead held until the fourth inning when starter Kenny Smalley yielded an unearned run for a 1-1 score. Smalley pitched four innings, gave up 3 hits, walked none and collected 5 strikeouts in a no-decision.

Matt Fitts (0-5) suffered the loss in hard-luck fashion. Two of his four innings were 1-2-3 frames, but he gave up a run in the sixth on a wind-aided double to give Quad Cities a 2-1 lead. Then in the eighth, a walk and a bloop single brought in a run for the 3-1 final.

Scott McGregor (2-2) picked up the win, and Casey Mulligan got the final five outs for his ninth save as the River Bandits held the Cougars to just 5 hits.

The Cougars (23-14) and River Bandits (20-16) conclude the four-game set at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Brett Hunter (0-0, 5.91) will oppose Josh Wilson (0-0, 5.00).