Flyers snap 7-game losing streak
Ryan Gehring pitched into the eighth inning to help the host Schaumburg Flyers snap a seven-game losing streak by beating the Gary SouthShore RailCats 4-2 in Northern League action at Alexian Field on Sunday night.
Gehring (3-2) gave up a pair of second-inning runs, but the RailCats would not score again as the left-hander did not walk a batter in 71/3 innings.
Joshua Giles relieved Gehring in the eighth and recorded the final five outs for his third save despite allowing a pair of hits and a walk.
The Flyers scored twice in the first inning off Zeb Engle (3-2), making his second start of the season. Josh Burrus doubled in 2 runs before Engle recorded an out. The Flyers scored the eventual winning run in the fourth inning when Joe Nowicki's groundout scored Ron Bourquin.
The Flyers' Richard Mercado had 2 hits.
Fielders fall: Jeff Dunbar blasted a 3-run homer, his sixth of the year, to gave Lake County an early 3-1 lead, but the Fielders fell 6-4 to the host Rockford RiverHawks in Northern League action. The Fielders, who return home to host Joliet today at 1 p.m., received solid relief pitching from Alec Lewis, Ryan Falcon and Chris Homer. The trio threw a combined 4 innings and allowed 1 run.
Cougars lose to Snappers: Several rallies fell short as the host Kane County Cougars stranded 13 runners and lost 6-4 to the Beloit Snappers in Midwest League action before 10,073 at Elfstrom Stadium. The Cougars' Rashun Dixon had an RBI double, Mike Gilmartin and Leonardo Gil each drew a bases-loaded walk, and Jason Christian had a sacrifice fly.
Big first boosts Bandits: The host Chicago Bandits exploded for 9 runs in the first inning and cruised to a 10-4 victory over the Tennessee Diamonds in a National Pro Fastpitch contest at Judson University in Elgin.
Stacy May and Vicky Galindo both doubled, and Ashley Holcome blasted a grand slam to spark the outburst for the Bandits (9-7).
"I was seeing the ball well and I hit it and I was like, 'go, go,' " Holcombe said. "It was really exciting. I've never hit a grand slam ever and it was my first home run in the NPF."
Nikki Nemitz was the winning pitcher, striking out five.