Susnara's homer hels Cougars sweep Wisconsin

Tim Susnara's go-ahead homer in the eighth inning handed the Kane County Cougars (35-34) a 4-3 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (31-38) at Northwestern Medicine Field on Sunday afternoon.

Wisconsin scored in the first inning. Kenny Corey led off the game by reaching on an error. The next batter, Pat McInerney, hit a towering home run to left field to make it 2-0 Wisconsin. In the bottom of the second, Ernie De La Trinidad belted his fifth homer of the year, a solo shot to pull the Cougars back within a run. Tristen Lutz blasted a solo shot in the third, giving Wisconsin a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the third, the Cougars tied the game on Jazz Chisholm's two-run homer, his 10th of the year.

In the eighth, Tim Susnara slammed a solo shot over the right field fence for his third round-tripper this season. Susnara's homer proved to be the game-winner.

Brian Shaffer did not factor into the decision for the Cougars, but he did earn his team-leading fifth quality start of the first half of the season. The right-hander hurled 6 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits with 8 strikeouts and no walks. Erbert Gonzalez (2-1) picked up the win in two scoreless innings. Carlos Bustamante (4) locked down the save with 2 strikeouts in the ninth.

Dylan File exited after 3⅔ innings for Wisconsin, surrendering 3 runs on 8 hits. Cody Beckman held the Cougars off the board for 1⅓ innings. Carlos Herrera chipped in two shutout innings. Rodrigo Benoit (0-3) suffered the loss, despite striking out the side in the bottom of the eight.

The Cougars have reached the end of the first half of the season. The team is off for the All-Star Break from Monday-Wednesday. The second half of the season kicks off Thursday night when the Cougar travel to Clinton for the beginning of a four-game series.