Three Home Runs Lead Kernels Past Timber Rattlers 6-3

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Kernels and Timber Rattlers combined to score nine runs on five home runs Tuesday night, but it was Cedar Rapids who belted three of them, outslugging Wisconsin in a 6-3 win.

Entering the series having won three of the final four games in South Bend, the Kernels got the offense going right away against Wisconsin. In the bottom of the first inning, a Jacob McCombs hit-by-pitch and an Eduardo Tait single put two on for Jose Salas, who belted a three-run home run to right to jump Cedar Rapids in front 3-0.

The Kernels continued the power surge in the bottom of the second. Danny De Andrade singled to open the inning, and a batter later, Jayson Bass blasted a two-run home run to right to grow the lead to 5-0.

Wisconsin punched back in the top of the fourth. A one-out walk put a runner on for Luis Castillo, who homered down the right field line to cut the deficit to 5-2.

The Timber Rattlers got another run closer in the fifth. With two outs, Daniel Dickinson lined a solo home run to left to bring Wisconsin within two at 5-3.

Cedar Rapids responded in the bottom of the inning. Tait slugged his 20th home run of the season, a solo shot to right to grow the advantage back up to 6-3.

And that was the end of the scoring on the night. Cole Peschl came in in the seventh inning and went the rest of the way, not allowing a run across three innings of work to earn a nine-out save, locking down the 6-3 win.

The Kernels' fourth win in their last five games improves Cedar Rapids to 42-65 on the season. The series with Wisconsin continues Wednesday at 12:05. Reed Morning gets the start opposite Andrew Healy.