Lincoln scores seven straight to beat Cougars

The Kane County Cougars built an early 3-0 lead, but the Lincoln Saltdogs scored 7 straight runs to claim a 7-3 victory on Tuesday night at Northwestern Medicine Field.

Trailing 3-0 entering the top of the sixth inning, the Saltdogs got on the board against Cougars' reliever Jake Stevenson. After a Wellington Dotel double, Hunter Clanin blasted a two-run homer to left-center to pull the Saltdogs within a run. Later in the inning, Rayder Ascario laid down a squeeze bunt that scored Luke Roskam to tie the game at three.

With the game tied at three entering the top of the eighth inning, the Saltdogs put up a four spot against Cougars' reliever Ryan Richardson (4-2). Roskam and Justin Byrd began the rally by drawing back-to-back one-out walks. Then, Rayder Ascario smacked a single into left field to score Roskam and make it 4-3. Lincoln went on to add three more runs on a two-run single by Jason Rogers and a Josh Altmann sacrifice fly to make it 7-3.

Prior to the Lincoln rally, the Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 edge. Kane County scored in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly from Jimmy Kerrigan. In the bottom of the third, the Cougars added two more runs. Cornelius Randolph drove in a run with an RBI single before a Dylan Busby sacrifice fly made it 3-0.

Lincoln reliever Jonathan Cheshire (1-2) earned the win by pitching a scoreless seventh inning. In a no decision, Cougars starter Vance Worley worked five scoreless innings while allowing six hits with five strikeouts against three walks.