Cougars, Chiefs split doubleheader
PEORIA - The Cougars rode the performance of a former Chief to grab the second game over Peoria and even a three-game series at 1-1. The Cougars (26-18, 71-43) and Chiefs (23-20, 60-52) each won and lost a game by a score of 4-1, to split Tuesday night's doubleheader at Dozer Park.
Monday's weather prevented the Cougars and Chiefs from finishing a game that was stopped in the bottom of the first inning 1-1. Chesny Young gave the Cougars' the lead in the opening inning Monday by singling home Shawon Dunston Jr., who had doubled.
Peoria quickly tied the game with an RBI groundout from Juan Hererra. With a runner at third base, Justin Ringo struck out for the second out. Then the tarp was pulled onto the field. After a 52-minute rain delay the game was postponed until Tuesday.
Carson Kelly waited an entire day to get his first at-bat of the series, and he took advantage of it. Jen-Ho Tseng took over as the Cougars' pitcher and served up a 2-run homer to Kelly for a 3-1 Chiefs lead. Despite facing just four batters in the beginning of the game Monday, Duane Underwood (5-4) suffered the loss. Kevin Herget (6-3) kept the Cougars scoreless through five innings for the victory, and Zach Loraine picked up his 10th save.
Both teams found the scoreboard in the opening inning again, but the Cougars came out of the first leading this time. With two runners on, Ben Carhart's groundball to Chase Brookshire was thrown into center field trying to get the lead runner, allowing Dunston Jr. to score.
Young moved to third and gave the Cougars a chance to get creative with runners at the corners. Carhart took off for second base and got himself in a rundown. Young scored on the pickle and Carhart ended up safely at second.
Brookshire (3-6) cruised through the next 4 innings but gave up back-to-back, two-out singles to Dunston and Young for a 3-1 Cougars' lead. The Cougars added one more with Jeffrey Baez's first home run with the team for a 4-1 advantage.
Ben Wells (1-0) was a member of the Peoria Chiefs in 2012 when they were affiliated with the Cubs. The right-hander tossed 6 innings of 1-run baseball and only allowed 4 hits. Tyler Bremer tossed a perfect bottom of the seventh to seal the victory.
The series will wrap up Wednesday in Peoria with a 7 p.m. scheduled first pitch. Paul Blackburn (8-4, 3.19) will make the start for the Cougars against Peoria's Blake McKnight (5-8, 4.37).