Cougars Force Game 3
September 9, 2022 – American Association (AA) – Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, Ill. – The Kane County Cougars forced a decisive Game 3 in the American Association Division Series with a 6-4 victory over the Cleburne Railroaders on Friday night at Northwestern Medicine Field.
Kane County (1-1) led from the second inning on, but survived multiple Cleburne rallies. Leading 6-4 in the top of the ninth inning, the Cougars turned to their closer, Ryan Tapani. Kacy Clemens and Zach Nehrir started the inning by reaching on a walk and a single to put the tying runs aboard. Chase Simpson then hit a fly ball to shallow center field, but Jimmy Kerrigan made an incredible diving catch for the first out of the inning. Tapani then induced a fly out and struck out Chuck Taylor to earn the save and preserve a 6-4 Cougars win to even the series at one game apiece.
The Cougars jumped out to an early lead against Cleburne (1-1) starter Kevin Hilton (0-1). In the bottom of the second, Kerrigan led off the frame with a double into right-center field before coming home on a Nick Franklin single to make it 1-0. After Franklin moved to third on a pair of outs, Alexis Pantoja drove him in with a single back through the middle to make it 2-0. Galli Cribbs then singled to put runners at the corners for Ernie De La Trinidad. The Cougars lead-off man promptly doubled into the right-center field to score both runners and make it 4-0.
Cleburne began to cut into the Cougars lead in top of the fifth against starter Jose Fuentes (1-0). Jacob Bockelie drew a walk to lead off the inning and later came in to score on an RBI single by Edwin Arroyo to make it 4-1.
The Railroaders added two more in the top of the sixth against Cougars’ reliever Keith Rogalla. Chase Simpson and Nick Shumpert both hit RBI singles to pull Cleburne within a run at 4-3. However, the Cougars responded with an RBI double by De La Trinidad in the bottom of the sixth to push the lead back to two runs.
Cleburne once again came within a run of the Cougars on a sacrifice fly by Hill Alexander in the top of the seventh. Franklin gave the Cougars another response with an RBI double to score Kerrigan and make it 6-4.
On the mound, Fuentes earned the win by allowing just one earned run on four hits over five innings of work. Prior to Tapani’s save, Ryan Richardson pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to maintain a two-run lead for Kane County.
The Division Series against the Railroaders continues with a deciding Game 3 on Saturday night at Northwestern Medicine Field. Right-hander Josh Lucas (3-4, 4.58) will take the hill for Cleburne against the Cougars’ Jack Fox (10-3, 3.12). First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m., for tickets call 630-232-8811 or visit kccougars.com/tickets. All playoff games feature $5 tickets and free parking at Northwestern Medicine Field.
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