Cougars blank Lincoln

The Kane County Cougars continued their strong start to the season with Sunday’s 4-0 win over the Lincoln Saltdogs at Northwestern Medicine Field.

The Cougars (10-5) wasted little time providing support for Westin Muir (2-1), scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. After Armond Upshaw and Josh Allen were hit by pitches and Matt Bottcher drew a walk to load the bases, Todd Lott delivered a two-run single. Claudio Finol added a sacrifice fly to score Bottcher and give Kane County an early 3-0 advantage.

Muir retired the first nine batters he faced and carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning. Muir repeatedly worked out of trouble, finishing with six scoreless innings while allowing just two hits.

The Cougars added their final run in the fourth when Josh Allen launched a solo home run over the left field wall.

Logan Nissen followed Muir with a scoreless seventh inning before Art Warren escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth. Jake Gozzo closed out the victory in the ninth, striking out two during a perfect inning.