Cougars Drop Finale with Swing

April 9, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

Geneva IL - The Kane County Cougars split their four-game series with the Swing of the Quad Cities after losing 8-4 on Sunday afternoon in front of 3,150 fans at Elfstrom Stadium. The game featured a pitcher's duel early but was broken open by the Swing's six-run fifth inning. Anthony Recker connected for a three-run homer for the Cougars' main offensive punch.

Kane County starter Craig Italiano had struck out seven batters through three innings before allowing a tally with two outs in the fourth. The hard-throwing 19-year-old couldn't get out of the fifth, giving up three runs, walking one and tossing a pair of wild pitches. Reliever Brad Kilby entered and surrendered three more runs for a 7-0 score heading to the bottom half. Steve Kleen and Wes Long singled before Recker smacked a pitch over the left-field fence for a three-run shot off Swing starter Adam Daniels and a 7-3 count.

Quad Cities added one run in the sixth, and the Cougars plated Justin Sellers in the eighth for an unearned score and the eventual 8-4 final. Italiano (0-1) suffered the loss from his four innings, giving up four runs on four hits, walking three and fanning eight. Daniels (1-0) went six innings to claim the victory. Cougars relievers Brad Davis and Joe Piekarz combined for three scoreless frames to keep Kane County in the game.

The Cougars (2-2) remain home for a three-game series with the Burlington Bees that begins Monday night at 6 CDT. Jason Ray takes the mound for his Cougars debut against Bees righty Carlos Rosa.

Midwest League Stories from April 9, 2006

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• Devil Rays Fall to Lugnuts - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Bees Win to Split Series - Burlington Bees
• Swing win, leave Kane County with split - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Cougars Drop Finale with Swing - Kane County Cougars
• Ninth Inning Rally Lifts Snappers - Beloit Sky Carp
• Silver Hawks Take Three of Four from Dayton with 7-0 Win - Dayton Dragons
• Wizards display power to down the Whitecaps - West Michigan Whitecaps
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