Cougars drop second straight to Snappers

BELIOT, Wis. - Connecting on just 3 hits Tuesday night, the Kane County Cougars (38-19, 74-51) dropped their second consecutive game to the Beloit Snappers (25-31, 51-75) in a 6-2 loss from Pohlman Field.

The Cougars had two separate leads in the game, including a leadoff solo shot from Ildemaro Vargas in the first inning.

It was the fifth home run of the year for Vargas, but it was only one of the 2 hits given up by Beloit starter Junior Mendez (4-11).

After Justin Higley tied up the game in the third with an RBI sacrifice fly, the Cougars retook an advantage without recording a hit in the fourth.

Colin Bray walked with one out, stole both second and third base before coming home on a wild pitch from Mendez.

Unable to score after the fourth, the Cougars didn't grab another hit until the ninth inning.

Brent Jones (2-5) was one pitch away from exiting the fifth inning without giving up a run, but a hit by pitch to Mikey White kept the Snappers alive.

Max Kuhn followed with an RBI single to tie the game at two while a walk to Jose Brizuela loaded the bases and forced Jones out of the game.

Two more Snapper runs came home on Argenis Raga's single for a 4-2 Beloit lead.

Two innings later Kuhn took Chris Oliver deep to make it a 6-2 Beloit advantage. The Cougars look to salvage a win and avoid the sweep from the Snappers Wednesday in Beloit. Brad Keller (7-9, 2.51) will take the mound for the Cougars against Beloit's Brett Graves (12-6, 5.11). First pitch from Pohlman Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.