Snappers rally in eighth inning for 2-1 victory

A piece of timely hitting by a slumping slugger powered Beloit to a 2-1 victory over the Peoria Chiefs Wednesday night. 

B.A. Vollmuth drove in a 2-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning, his first hit in his last 14 at-bats, and the Snappers completed the late-inning comeback in dramatic fashion. 

Junior Mendez threw six innings for the Snappers (3 H, 1 ER) in a much-needed solid pitching performance. Beloit had allowed a total of 28 runs in its last two games before giving up just one against Peoria. 

The Chiefs got to Mendez in the sixth inning as Ronnierd Garcia led off the inning with a double and proceeded to score two batters later. Richy Pendroza sent Garcia to third base on a groundout and CJ McElroy came through with an RBI-single to center field. 

The Snappers had an opportunity to even the ballgame in the seventh inning but stranded three runners in a 2-out rally. After a single from Boog Powell, Ryan Mathews was tagged out at third base after rounding the base too far. 

Beloit barely escaped the eighth inning with its 1-run deficit intact as a great defensive play from Tyler Mariconov prevented additonal runs. Marincov threw out Mason Katz at home plate after a Ricky Pendroza single sent Katz around third base and heading towards the plate. 

The Snappers finally got on the scoreboard in the eighth inning as Vollmuth sent Jaycob Brugman and Mariconov across the plate for the winning run. Brugman reached base with a single before a walk from Mariconov and another single from Chih-Fang Pan loaded the bases for Vollmuth. 

Powell finished the game 3-for-3 and CJ McElroy went 2-for-4 for the Chiefs with one RBI. 

The Snappers and Chiefs return to Pohlman Field for the second game of their series Thursday night at 7:00 p.m.