Cougars blanked by Snappers

With just 4 hits and just one man reaching scoring position, the Kane County Cougars couldn't find the offense against the Beloit Snappers at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark on Friday night and stumbled in a 2-0 contest.

Michael Heesch (3-6) started for the Cougars (31-43, 1-7) and limited Beloit (49-29, 6-2) to just 1 run over 7 innings. Heesch mowed through the first 3 innings without a tally surrendered as Beloit managed just 2 hits their first time through the lineup.

In the fourth, the Snappers took a slim 1-0 advantage as Daniel Robertson started the frame with a double and advanced to third on a Chris Bostick base hit. Renato Nunez followed up by cracking a sacrifice fly to center, drawing home Robertson.

Heesch wasn't touched again as he ended up allowing 5 hits with 3 strikeouts. Dakota Bacus (7-2) was even better on the hill for Beloit as he lasted eight innings without a run being scored. Bacus's only sign of trouble came in the bottom of the fifth when Marco Hernandez walked, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by Nick Rickles. Hernandez was stranded, however, when Willson Contreras struck out and Reggie Golden fouled out behind home plate.

Stephen Perakslis took over for Heesch in the top of the eighth, working around a leadoff single to keep the Snappers off the board. Perakslis fanned the first two hitters he faced in the ninth before coughing up a solo home run to John Wooten which put Beloit up by a pair. Tyler Vail (S, 2) tossed up a zero in the bottom of the ninth with Dan Vogelbach singling for the second time in the game, but the Cougars unable to put another runner in scoring position.

The Cougars begin a five-game road series with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Saturday night from Fox Cities Stadium with a 6:35 first pitch. Right-hander Felix Pena (2-2) starts for the Cougars against fellow righty Preston Gainey (3-5).