Cougars clobber Cleburne

The Kane County Cougars scored a season-high 20 runs on 18 hits on their way to a 20-6 win over the Cleburne Railroaders on Sunday at Northwestern Medicine Field.

The offensive showcase was highlighted by a 12-run fourth inning that saw the Cougars (32-25) hit three home runs. With the win, the Cougars secured a series split in the six-game set with Cleburne (34-25).

The Cougars’ bats got rolling in the bottom of the second against Cleburne starter Brady Puckett (0-1). Kane County put up five runs as Galli Cribbs Jr., Trendon Craig, Armond Upshaw and Cornelius Randolph all drove in runs in the frame. Randolph’s two-run single capped the scoring.

One inning later, the Cougars added two more. After Claudio Finol walked, Simon Reid belted the Cougars’ first home run of the day with a two-run blast to right that made it 7-0.

Cleburne put up four runs in the top of the fourth with five straight singles against Nick Belzer. However, the Cougars responded in a big way in the bottom half. Kane County scored 12 runs, sending 16 hitters to the plate. Randolph and Galli Cribbs Jr. both hit two-run homers and Reid smacked a two-run double. After putting up eight runs, Claudio Finol put the finishing touch on the frame with a grand slam off the scoreboard in left that made it a 19-4 Cougars lead.

Cleburne added two more runs, while the Cougars scored one more to reach the 20-6 final. AJ Jones (1-2) earned the win for the Cougars, while Ryan Richardson picked up a save by tossing the final three innings. Eight of the nine starters in the Cougars’ lineup picked up hits. Randolph, Finol, and Reid all drove in four runs.