Cougars give up lead late in loss to Wisconsin

After charging out to an early lead the Kane County Cougars (28-33) could not stop Wisconsin slugger Monte Harrison as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (30-32) won 5-4 at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva.

With the Cougars leading 4-2 into the seventh inning, the Timber Rattlers scored three unanswered runs to end the ballgame. Tying the game with his fifth home run of the year against the Cougars, Monte Harrison belted a shot to deep left field against Cougars starter Alex Young (1-0) who worked his longest outing of 2016.

The Timber Rattlers followed up with another run after Max McDowell doubled and scored on a Ryan Burr (1-1) throwing error to end a big seventh inning.

It was a fruitful beginning for the Cougars who scored first against Brewers prospect, Freddy Peralta (2-1). In the home half of the first on "90s Night" at the ballpark, Fernery Ozuna led off the inning with a base hit and wheeled home on an overthrow from Timber Rattlers catcher, Max McDowell.

As they did so many times last night, the Timber Rattlers responded with two runs in the second inning. They strung together three straight singles and scored on a fielder's choice and error at shortstop to take a 2-1 advantage.

Austin Byler took matters into his own hands to start the fourth stanza. He slugged his first home run of the season to deep right field. Byler's home run tied the game at two a piece. Byler had three hits on the evening.

The Cougars grabbed their second lead of the ballgame in the sixth frame thanks to the middle part of their order. Hits by Byler and Trevor Mitsui swung momentum toward the Cougars. One run scored on a double play groundout, but with two outs Joe Munoz socked his third hit of the game to send the Cougars to a 4-2 lead.

After the Timber Rattlers three run seventh, no teams scored, the Cougars received a leadoff single from Grant Heyman in the ninth, but he was stranded.

In relief, right-hander Scott Grist (4-1) picks up the victory for Wisconsin, Burr takes the loss, and Timber Rattlers' closer, Nathan Griep (8) notched the save. In a no decision, Young managed a quality start for the Cougars lasting six innings on three runs with three punchouts.