Olson Homers Twice, Snappers Win in Ten

After Losing Late Lead, Beloit Rebounds to Top Kane County

August 22, 2013

BELOIT, WI - Ryan Mathews slapped an RBI single into left field in the 10^th inning, plating the go-ahead run in what would turn out to be an 8-5 victory for the Beloit Snappers over the Kane County Cougars at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Midwest League action on Wednesday night.

Beloit's third straight win puts their record at 70-58 (27-31 in the second half). Kane County falls to 50-73 (20-37 in the second half).

The Snappers quickly went to work, getting on the board in the first inning as Aaron Shipman led-off the game with a triple and scored when the next batter grounded out. In the second, two more runs crossed the plate for Beloit, the first on Matt Olson's 20^th homer of the year. Brett Vertigan followed that with a single and a stolen base and he later scored on an error.

In the third, the Snappers continued adding to their lead. Christopher Bostick started the frame by doubling and he dented home when John Wooten singled. A fielder's choice later in the frame brought in another run and Beloit had built up a 5-0 lead.

For most of the evening, the Cougars offense was stifled by pitcher Dakota Bacus, who threw six innings of shutout ball, only allowing three hits. In the eighth, they finally awoke, closing to within 5-3 on a bases-clearing triple by Giuseppe Papaccio.

As the game went into the ninth, the Snappers were still holding a two run edge, but Kane County continued on the comeback trail. After a pair of singles put men on first and third, Jeimer Candelario lined an RBI single into right for one run and Rock Shoulders followed with a sacrifice fly to even the score.

Undaunted after seeing their lead disappear, Beloit's offense jumped back ahead in the tenth on Mathews single. Olson then came up and lifted his second homer of the year and 21^st of 2013 over the center field wall for a pair of insurance runs. Austin House (3-4) made that lead stand up with a scoreless 10^th.

On Thursday, the second game of this series will pit RHP Andres Avila (5-4, 5.82 ERA) against RHP Felix Pena (4-4, 3.91 ERA). The night's first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 6:30pm.