Cougars' record 10-1 after loss

The Kane County Cougars mounted a late rally Monday night against the South Bend Silver Hawks but fell a run short in a 5-4 loss in front of 1,885 at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva.

The defeat ended the Cougars' season-opening winning streak at 10 games, one shy of a franchise record for consecutive victories.

Cougars starter Scott Hodsdon gave up a first-inning run before settling down to get into the sixth. Greg Dowling homered off South Bend starter Jordan Norberto to lead off the fourth for a 1-1 tie, but the Silver Hawks retook control in the top of the fifth with one run and added 3 more in the sixth on a homer off reliever Scott Deal.

Hodsdon (0-1) gave up 3 runs on 7 hits in 5½ innings, walking one and striking out five.

Trailing 5-1 in the eighth, the Cougars fought back. They loaded the bases against Billy Spottiswood and scored twice on one play, as Corey Brown drove home Gustavo Rosendo with a fielder's choice before a throwing a error allowed Matt Ray to score to make it 5-3.

Jake Smith singled in Brown to make it 5-4, but that's as close as the Cougars could get. They stranded two in that eighth inning and had the tying run at third in the ninth against reliever Dan Fournier when the game ended.