Snappers drop both games of doubleheader to Kernels
Beloit's bats failed to show up in Saturday night's doubleheader as the Snappers lost both games, 4-2 and 5-2, to Cedar Rapids.
In the first contest, Beloit couldn't find any timely hitting as it went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base. In the second game, the Snappers barely had any baserunners or chances to score, as they only tallied four hits in the game.
The Snappers forced extra innings in the second game with a solo shot home run by Tyler Marincov, his 16th of the season, but a 3-run home run by the Kernels gave Cedar Rapids the final 5-2 advantage.
Chris Mazza (3-2) and Jared Wilson (3-2) picked up the wins for Cedar Rapids while Joe Michaud (3-1) and Joel Seddon (2-2) recorded the losses for Beloit.
After Friday night's game was suspended due to rain, the Snappers and Kernels resumed their game in the second inning with the game tied 0-0.
The Snappers struck first in the fourth frame, after two scoreless innings, to take the early 1-0 lead. After Melvin Mercedes doubled and advanced to third base on a groundout, Luis Baez sent him home with an RBI-single.
The Kernels took the lead in the fifth inning as consecutive RBI's from Engelb Vielma and J.D. Williams gave Cedar Rapids the 2-1 advantage. Alex Swim led off the frame with a single and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Vielma sent him home with a single and Williams knocked a double to center field in the next at-bat to score Vielma.
Beloit tied the game in the bottom of the frame off an RBI-double from Tyler Marincov but couldn't hold off the Kernels' bats for long.
In the sixth inning, the Kernels tallied two runs to take the final 4-2 lead. Chad Christensen led off the inning with a walk, stole second base, and was sent home with a Bryan Haar RBI-single. Max Murphy provided the second RBI as his single drove Haar home.
The Snappers had a great chance to cut into Cedar Rapids' lead in the bottom of the inning, but couldn't convert. After two walks and a Justin Higley single loaded the bases for Beloit with one out, a strikeout and a popout ended the inning for the Snappers.
The Snappers struggled offensively throughout game 2 as they only recorded four hits on the night. After a three-hit first inning, it took Beloit until the sixth inning to record another hit, when Tyler Marincov hit a solo shot home run.
The Kernels put the game out of reach in the eighth inning as Bryan Haar blasted a three-run home run over the center field wall to give Cedar Rapids a 5-2 lead.
The Snappers and Kernels conclude their series Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Pohlman Field.