Late error costs Cougars game in extra innings

After struggling at the plate for seven innings, the Kane County Cougars’ bats warmed up with back-to-back homers to tie the game in the ninth. But a costly throwing error by first baseman Murray Watts in the 11th inning resulted in a go-ahead score for the Beloit Snappers and a 5-4 loss for the Cougars on Tuesday afternoon.

“We definitely gave it away,” Cougars manager Brian Buchanan said. “We took one pitch off on defense and lost the game because of it.”

Just one day removed from a 20-hit, 9-run performance Monday, the Cougars (27-25) struggled to generate offense, mustering just one run in the first seven innings as the Snappers (31-21) got off to a hot start and a three-run lead with a triple and two home runs on their first three at-bats against pitcher Kellen Moen. The Snappers entered the contest second in the Midwest League in team ERA at 3.14.

“It’s just one of those games where you got to give credit to their guy,” Buchanan said. “You face good pitching, you’re not going to get good hits.”

Tyler Jones started for the Snappers and played four innings. For the Cougars, Matt Ridings replaced Moen after six innings and was tagged with the loss, allowing one earned run and four hits.

The Cougars closed the gap late with a home run from Lane Adams in the eighth and back-to-back homers from designated hitter Daniel Mateo and right fielder Jorge Bonifacio in the ninth. But they failed to overcome Watts’ throwing error in the 11th as the Snappers held on to win take the series, 3-1.

With the win, Beloit extended its lead on the Cougars for second in the Western Division to four games.