Cougars win in 10

The Kane County Cougars grabbed their fifth walk-off win of the season Monday afternoon, beating the Lansing Lugnuts 9-8 in 10 innings in front of 5,084 fans at Elfstrom Stadium.

Matt Ray brought home Jake Smith with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to end the back-and-forth marathon slugfest.

Each team scored 4 first-inning runs as the Cougars drew even with a 2-run double by Todd Johnson and RBI singles by Shane Keough and Ray. The clubs traded runs for a 5-5 deadlock, then Jemile Weeks nailed a 2-run single in the third to put the Cougars ahead 7-5.

Lansing fought back with a John Tolisano 2-run homer in the sixth to make it 7-7 and force Cougars starter Scott Deal from the game. Deal allowed 7 runs on 9 hits, tied a career high with 4 walks and struck out five over 5-plus innings.

Jason Glushon kept the Lug nuts at bay with 3 scoreless innings, and Shane Keough's solo homer in the bottom half gave the Cougars an 8-7 lead going to the ninth.

Justin Friend allowed a homer to Yohermyn Chavez with one out in the ninth to tie it again, this time 8-8. Then in the bottom of the 10th, the Cougars loaded the bases against Michael Barbara (1-3), setting up Ray's drive to left that scored Smith for a 9-8 finish.

Brad Hertzler (2-5) was the winner.