Cougars’ 10-game winning streak ends with loss to Lincoln

The Kane County Cougars' season-best 10-game winning streak came to an end Tuesday night at Northwestern Medicine Field with a 9-5 loss to the Lincoln Saltdogs.

Lincoln (34-41) collected 15 hits, with every starter recording at least one hit and seven different players driving in runs to erase an early deficit and pull away late.

The Saltdogs struck first in the opening inning on Connor Bagnieski's RBI double, but Kane County (41-32) answered immediately. Armond Upshaw walked, stole second and came home on Nick Dalesandro's bases-loaded walk before Charles Mack lined a two-run single to center, giving the Cougars a 3-1 lead.

After Lincoln cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth, Mack wasted no time restoring the cushion, leading off the bottom half with his team-leading 12th home run of the season to make it 4-2.

The Saltdogs drew even again in the fifth, capitalizing on a wild pitch and a groundout to tie the game before taking the lead for good in the seventh. Tanner O'Tremba doubled to open the inning and later scored on Nick Shumpert's two-out RBI single to put Lincoln ahead 5-4.

The visitors broke the game open in the eighth after keeping the Cougars at bay, sending eight batters to the plate and scoring four runs. O'Tremba added a sacrifice fly before RBI singles from Calyn Halvorson, Griffin Everitt and Cam Phelts stretched the advantage to 9-4.

Kane County picked up one run in the bottom of the eighth on Sam Dexter's sacrifice fly.

Ryan Rembisz (2-5) earned the victory after recording the final out of the sixth and retiring the Cougars in order in the seventh. Logan Nissen (1-2) was charged with the loss after surrendering the go-ahead run in the seventh.

The Cougars’ Charles Mack finished with three RBIs, including his 12th home run of the season.