Cougars sweep Snappers

BELOIT, Wis. - Led by a dominant start from Carlos Hernandez (6-8) and a home run from Fernery Ozuna, the Kane County Cougars (17-24, 50-61) tied a season high with their fifth straight win in a sweep over the Beloit Snappers (16-25, 48-62). The Cougars are 3-0 to start their Wisconsin road trip with an upcoming four-game set in Appleton against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

It was the Cougars 17th shutout of 2016 to lead the Midwest League. Over the last nine games, the Cougars pitching staff has never allowed more than 4 runs in any single contest.

Getting on the board first in all three games of the series, the Cougars put up a pair in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie. To start the frame, Sergio Alcantara singled and Raymel Flores reached on a sacrifice bunt and throwing error at third. Newcomer Marcus Wilson then walked in his Cougars debut to load the bases. Zach Nehrir's ground ball allowed the first run to pass. And Stryker Trahan's floating single pushed the next run across.

A thorough Cougars offense extended the lead to 3-0 with a tally in the sixth inning. Against right-hander reliever Cody Kurz (2-5), Ozuna slammed his fourth home run of the season to right center field. It is now back-to-back games with a homer for the Cougars after Gerard Hernandez went deep in game two.

The Cougars received another applause-worthy start, this time from Hernandez. In five and one-third innings pitched, he tossed a shutout with five strikeouts and no walks. Hernandez's ERA now stands at 2.77 in a team best 94.1innings pitched on the season.