Cougars Fall in Decisive Game 3
September 10, 2022 – American Association (AA) – Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, Ill. – The Kane County Cougars 2022 season came to an end on Saturday night, as they fell to Cleburne Railroaders 7-3 in Game 3 of an American Association Division Series. The Railroaders will move on to take on the Milwaukee Milkmen in the East Division Championship Series.
Cleburne (2-1) struck right away against Cougars’ (1-2) starter Jack Fox (0-1). The Railroaders started the top of the first with back-to-back walks from Edwin Arroyo and Chuck Taylor. Zach Nehrir then drove in the first run of the ballgame with a single. Following a wild pitch, Taylor and Nehrir moved into scoring position. Chase Simpson then hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. Kacy Clemens and Jacob Bockelie added two more RBI singles to make it 4-0 Cleburne after a half inning.
The Cougars responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the first against Cleburne starter Josh Lucas. Ernie De La Trinidad singled to lead off the frame before a Cornelius Randolph double pushed him to third. A Jimmy Kerrigan RBI groundout pulled the Cougars within three runs.
In the top of the second, the Railroaders added a run on a single by Nick Shumpert and Arroyo reaching on a Mitch Nay error to make it 5-1. However, the Cougars’ Josh Rolette responded with a solo shot in the bottom of the second to make it 5-2.
Cleburne went on to add runs in the fourth and the seventh, both on RBI doubles by Arroyo to push the lead to 7-2.
Kane County cut into the Cleburne lead in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Sherman Johnson and Cornelius Randolph hit back-to-back singles. Then, Jimmy Kerrigan smacked another single to score Johnson and make it 7-3.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Cougars threatened against Cleburne closer Nick Gardewine. With one out, De La Trinidad and Sherman Johnson drew back-to-back walks. However, Gardewine struck out Cornelius Randolph and induced a Jimmy Kerrigan fly out to earn the save and clinch the series for Cleburne.
The loss was a bitter end to a great second season in the American Association for the Kane County Cougars. Under the guidance of manager George Tsamis, the Cougars made their first-ever postseason appearance in the American Association. Kane County finished tied for the best record in the AA East at 54-46.
The Cougars will return to Northwestern Medicine Field in May, 2023. For tickets and more information call 630-232-8811 or visit kccougars.com/tickets.
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