Cougars dropped third straight

The Kane County Cougars (20-23) lost their third straight game as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (13-30) grabbed a 5-3 victory Saturday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Wisconsin started the scoring with a run in the first inning, but the Cougars evened things up an inning later. With two outs and a runner at first, Stryker Trahan gave the Cougars their first run. A well-struck flyball to right-center was nearly caught by Monte Harrison but popped out of his glove. The two-out hit score Henry Castillo, but Harrison provided the spoiler role later in the game.

The Cougars took the lead in the bottom of the third inning thanks to Marty Herum. Again with two outs, Herum slapped a single into right field to score Colin Bray. Herum's team-leading 23rd RBI put the Cougars ahead 2-1.

In the fifth, Wisconsin tied the contest with a sacrifice fly by Greg McCall. McCall later helped the Timber Rattlers retake the lead. In the seventh inning with runners at first and second, McCall placed a bunt down the third-base line that was handled by Trahan. The Cougars catcher barely retired McCall, but with no one covering home plate, Harrison was able to score from second for a 3-2 Wisconsin lead. Francisco Castillo added an insurance run with an RBI single.

With the Timber Rattlers leading 5-3, the Cougars had runners at the corners with one out hoping to spark a rally. Harrison helped ruin those hopes by making a diving catch in center field on a Castillo flyball. Castillo recorded an RBI on the sacrifice fly, but it was the last time the Cougars scored.

Luke Curtis (3-1) picked up the win facing just one batter, a strikeout to Dane McFarland in the sixth. Steve Hathaway (0-1) suffered the loss serving up his first 2 runs of the season in the seventh. David Burkhalter (2) tossed the 3-inning save.

The Cougars and Timber Rattlers continue their four-game series Sunday. Brad Keller (1-4, 3.09) takes the hill for the Cougars against Wisconsin's Luis Ortega (0-3, 5.40). First pitch from Fifth Third Bank Ballpark is at 6:30 p.m.