Olivares Shines, Amick Drives in Three, Kernels Win Home Opener Over Beloit 3-2

Cedar Rapids, IA - Jose Olivares did not allow a run across 4.2 innings in his Kernels debut and Billy Amick drove in all three runs as Cedar Rapids topped Beloit 3-2 in its 2025 home opener.

After the first ten Kernels went down in order to begin the game, Kyle DeBarge worked a walk to reach with one out in the fourth. Two batters later, Billy Amick roped a two-out double down the right field line, scoring DeBarge from first to put Cedar Rapids on top 1-0.

That stayed the score until the sixth inning behind the work of Jose Olivares. In his Cedar Rapids debut, the right-hander did not give up a run in 4.2 innings of work, allowing just one hit while posting six strikeouts.

In the bottom of the sixth frame, Caden Kendle led off the inning with a walk and Kaelen Culpepper followed with a single into right field. After another walk to DeBarge, the bases were loaded for Amick. The Kernels first baseman hit a fly ball into center field that scored both Kendle and Culpepper all the way from second to up the Cedar Rapids edge to 3-0.

Beloit made a late push in the ninth. After two walks to begin the inning, Brock Vradenburg lined a one-out double into right-center, scoring a run to put the Sky Carp on the board and make it 3-1. With runners on second and third and one out, Jacob Wosinski entered out of the Kernels bullpen and got Michael Snyder to line out to center field, which brought in a run and made it 3-2. With the tying run still on second, Wosinski slammed the door, striking out Emaarion Boyd to close out the 3-2 win and collect his first save of the season.

The win improves the Kernels to 3-1 to begin the year and makes Cedar Rapids 8-3 in its last 11 home openers. Game two of the season-opening six-game homestand is set for tomorrow at 6:35, with Ross Dunn on the mound for the Kernels opposite Noble Meyer.