Bases-loaded walk gives Cougars 11th win

The Kane County Cougars walked off with a win for the second time in a week on Tuesday afternoon when Corey Brown drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth to bring in Shane Keough for a 3-2 triumph over the South Bend Silver Hawks in front of 6,044 fans at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva.

Starter Craig Italiano, in his first game since throwing a combined no-hitter, gave up an unearned run in the first inning and pitched well over his 4ˆº innings. He yielded the one run on five hits, walked two and set a career high with 10 strikeouts.

The Cougars (11-1) tied the game in the third when Matt Ray doubled home Walter Correa against Bryan Augenstein.

It remained 1-1 until the sixth inning when the Cougars jumped ahead. Christian Vitters was at the plate with the bases loaded when Tom Layne uncorked a wild pitch to bring in Greg Dowling for a 2-1 score.

The Silver Hawks countered with a tally in the eighth when they benefited from a hit and an error versus Brad Hertzler and notched a sacrifice fly against Jose Fragoso, making it 2-2.

Jake Smith led off the bottom of the ninth and got credit for a double off Evan Scribner when center fielder Evan Frey lost the ball in the sun. After Vitters singled to move the pinch-runner Keough to third, Jonathan Johnston was walked intentionally with one out to load the bases. Then with two outs, Brown took a 3-1 pitch outside to lead the Cougars to the win.

Fragoso (1-0) recorded the win, and Scribner (0-1) got saddled with the loss.

The Cougars and Silver Hawks (2-10) conclude their three-game series Wednesday at noon when Travis Banwart (2-0) faces Jarrod Parker (0-1). Then the Cougars start a six-game, seven-day road trip Thursday night in Lansing.