Cougars Fight Back to Beat Snappers

June 30, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

Geneva, IL - After their comeback last night against the Beloit Snappers fell short, the Kane County Cougars made sure their response Friday night went through, as they beat the Snappers, 9-7 after erasing a 6-2 deficit at one point. Justin Sellers reached base four times, Anthony Recker belted a three-run homer and Jeff Gray pitched strong relief to pick up the win in front of 10,236 fans at Elfstrom Stadium.

Both teams grabbed a run in each of the first two innings, as Jeff Baisley and Sellers accounted for the Kane County run-scoring hits against Snappers pitcher Ryan Mullins.

Beloit broke the 2-2 tie in the third against Cougars starter Vince Mazzaro with a four-run frame that chased the right-hander from the game in a 6-2 affair. Mazzaro allowed six runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings, but Gray kept the Cougars in the game and the offense battled back.

Recker's three-run smash in the fifth sailed over the scoreboard in left to cut it to 6-5, and a rally in the sixth against Jon Cline gave the Cougars the lead. Toddric Johnson delivered a run-scoring single to tie the game, Isaac Omura drove in one with a grounder to make it 7-6, and Jose Pineda cracked a two-run single for a 9-6 game.

Gray (4-5) pitched 5 1/3 innings and an eighth-inning tally was the only blemish in his victory. Rob Semerano took over and tossed a scoreless ninth for his second save. Cline (0-2) took the defeat.

The two teams take their competition back to Beloit for another pair of games, the first of which is Saturday night at 7 CDT. Ron Madej (2-2, 3.38) pitches for the Cougars (5-4) against Kyle Waldrop (6-2, 2.99) for the Snappers (5-4).

Midwest League Stories from June 30, 2006

• Bees Win 3rd Straight and 4 Out of 5 by One Run - Burlington Bees
• Cougars Fight Back to Beat Snappers - Kane County Cougars
• Chiefs Drop Another One-Run Contest to Bees - Peoria Chiefs
• The Rays Continue to Struggle - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Swing continue to struggle with Silver Hawks - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Lugnuts Take Third Consecutive Game - Lansing Lugnuts
• Dragons Pull out Comeback Win over Kernels - Dayton Dragons
• A different day, same score in Whitecap win - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Rattlers hit 21 (under .500) - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Swing to experience Hurricane effect - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Independent Gardner Signed, Joins Wizards - Fort Wayne TinCaps

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